BRAD RICHARDSON
Position: Forward, Arizona Coyotes
Hometown: Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on July 1, 2015
Drafted: Colorado’s fifth-round pick (163rd overall) in 2003 NHL Draft
Last Amateur Team: Owen Sound Attack (Ontario Hockey League)
Age: 33

READ OUR JANUARY 2018 ISSUE

Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up?
Brad Richardson: Growing up, it was probably going to that minor Pee Wee hockey tournament. It was great to have a chance to live with another family for a week. I went skiing and played in the Colisee (in Quebec City). It was pretty cool. I definitely have fond memories of that.

AZR: What’s your favorite memory in the game since leaving junior hockey?
BR: For sure, it was in 2012 and winning the Stanley Cup (with the Los Angeles Kings). That’s a pretty easy one. It was a great run and a lot of fun.

AZR: Who have been the biggest influences on you, on and off the ice?
BR: I would say family, for sure. No. 1 would be my dad. He coached me all the way up. Still tries to do that to this day. Yeah, he coached and put in a lot of time and effort as did my mom. It was my dad that did the coaching.

AZR: What’s the best piece of advice you have for young hockey players?
BR: The one I try to live by every day is to have fun. If you work hard, usually good things happen. I always try to have a smile on my face and enjoy the moment.

AZR: Other than hockey, do you have a favorite sport to play?
BR: That was golf and baseball. In fact, I continued to play hardball. Things managed to get a little out of hand when guys started to slide hard into bases. At that point, I decided to pursue hockey.

AZR: Do you have any superstitions?
BR: I haven’t changed a lot of my gear since I was 14 years old. I still have the same shin pads and shoulder pads since I was in juniors. I don’t change my gear too often.

AZR: What does your game-day routine look like?
BR: It’s pretty standard. Eat pretty much the same breakfast every day. I have eggs and pancakes on every game day. Try and have a nap and that doesn’t always work out. I throw some music on, just relax and get ready.

AZR: Do you have a favorite meal or restaurant here in the Phoenix area?
BR: We were there for a party recently, and I really like SumoMaya (Mexican-Asian fusion cuisine). That’s my favorite. And then they just opened a new Vig around my house and I enjoy going there, too. There’s a Vig downtown, too, but the one in Scottsdale is closer to my house.

AZR: What are some essential items you take on a road trip?
BR: My underwear. Some guys don’t even do that. Toothbrush, oral hygiene stuff, of course. All the usual. I don’t bring anything crazy. Some guys bring a PlayStation with them, and I don’t do that. I make sure I have my headphones. That’s all I need.

AZR: Did you have a favorite hockey player growing up?
BR: It’s probably two. When I was little kid, it was Wayne Gretzky, 100 percent. When I got a little bit older, it was Joe Sakic. Sakic was my favorite from I was like 14 all the way until I was about 20. I got to play with him (in Colorado), and so that was pretty cool.

Photo/Norm Hall

– Compiled by Mark Brown

(Feb. 13, 2018)