After two years as the Thunder’s home game co-ordinator, David Richards has moved up the ranks as the tight-knit team’s general manager.
Richards was excited for the New Zealand Hockey League season ahead - the Thunder finished last season thumping Botany Swarm 7-2 - and wanted to help the team, while navigating the challenges that came with the sport.
He was thrilled to have "fantastic" head coach Guillaume Leclancher, and assistant coach Felipe Aguirre, back this season, and work on developing players.
"We’re aiming to get a couple of imports in as well to help with that skill development of the players," Richards said.
There were plenty of challenges in ice hockey in New Zealand, with the sport being "purely amateur", but the Thunder always made the best out of every situation, he said.
"We do the best we can with what we’ve got.
"I’m really proud of the product that we put on the ice as a family spectacle to come along and watch and enjoy.
"It is quite unique across the country and we are fortunate enough here in Dunedin to have the best ice facilities available to watch games at."
Richards, who owns a plumbing and gas company, became involved in ice hockey 14 years ago, when he was on the hunt for a less "mainstream" sport.
The Dunedin Ice Stadium provided a good space for ice hockey to flourish in Dunedin, and once Richards learnt to skate, he was away and has been hooked ever since.
"It’s fast. The action is quick, there are big hits and you are so close to the action when you are sitting around it.
"The other part of it is the Thunder is a really family-orientated group, as in they look out for each other.
"These boys and men ... with what they’re going through they become a family and it’s cool to be a part of that."
