Athlete of the Week - Richard Haché
Richard Hache’s hockey journey started at a young age and he quickly joined the ranks of his local rep team in Ottawa. The Grade 11 student at The Country Day School continued playing rep when his family moved to Calgary, and he now plays for the “AA” Aurora Tigers Midget team as a left-winger. In January, the Tigers won the prestigious International Silver Stick Tournament held in Sarnia.
Richard recently received individual recognition as well as recipient of the Most Valuable Player at the Ontario Hockey Prospects Challenge Cup held in Kingston in December.
In addition to playing rep, he is a staple on the Senior Boys’ CDS Hockey team, but as a defenseman. The position switch helped Richard improve his all-around game. When he plays defense for CDS, he is eager to jump into a rush up ice and use his already existing attacking skills to help score goals. Whereas when playing forward for the Aurora Tigers, Richard uses his new defending skills on the penalty kill.
“I play much stronger, and I block more shots now. It taught me you have to sacrifice yourself more, and I’ve learned that as a forward it’s not so painful to block a shot from the point.”
Richard also views himself as more of a leader on the CDS team and now feels comfortable on the bench telling teammates where they could improve, what not to do or how to do it differently. On the Aurora team, he is among the younger players, so feels he can learn more there. “I get a lot of feedback from the older players and the coach; that helps me grow as a player.” Despite being younger, Richard currently starts on the first line.
Sports are not all about competition for Richard. Though he enjoys winning games, he values the camaraderie even more. “I have no future major hockey ambitions; it’s not something I’m focused on. Having fun with my friends and making new friends on other teams is what I value the most.”
The same sporting philosophy can be said for another sport Richard is passionate about, baseball. It wasn’t hard to switch a hockey stick for a baseball bat at a young age considering his father is a baseball fanatic. Richard grew up playing at a higher level with his older brother, Michel Haché ’14, so naturally he was used to the competition.
Richard plays baseball for CDS and his local rep ‘AAA’ team, the Aurora Jays. An incredibly versatile player, he feels especially comfortable playing centre-field, shortstop, and his favourite – pitcher.
While hockey and baseball are the biggest two sports in his life, volleyball has offered him his most memorable CDS sporting moment. It happened last fall during the CISAA semi-finals. “We were playing a team we lost to three times before. This game was a different story and we pushed them to a fifth and final set. In the end we lost a very close match by only two points, but it was the experience getting there that I really remember.”
Richard is very complimentary of all of the coaches he has worked with at CDS. “I could not have asked for better coaches. They know the specifics of the sports they coach as well as the life lessons that come with that. Mr. MacMillan and Ms. Switalski are big on teaching those life goals. Mr. Collins is very keen on volleyball, but he also teaches us how to stay in shape in everyday life.”
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
