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U.S. Hockey Men’s National Team and Florida Panthers equipment director Thaddeus “Teddy” Richards was arrested Friday.
Richards, 43, was arrested in Florida on misdemeanor charges of assault/domestic violence and unauthorized use of 911 services, according to online records. The Athletic was the first to report it.
The incident occurred in Coral Springs, Florida, and Richards was incarcerated at the Broward Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night.
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Team USA’s Jeremy Swayman No. 1 and team manager Teddy Richards react from the bench during the first period of the 4 Nations matchup between Team Sweden and Team USA at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. (Steve Babineau/4NFO/Hockey World Cup via Getty Images)
“The Florida Panthers organization has been informed of an incident involving the arrest of equipment manager Teddy Richards,” the Panthers said in a statement.
“Effective immediately, he will be suspended from all team activities and facilities pending an investigation.”
Pak Gazette Digital reached out to USA Hockey for a statement but did not immediately receive a response.
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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Florida Panthers president Bill Zito, Panthers equipment manager Teddy Richards and Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk pose with a puck to celebrate their Olympic gold medal before an NHL game between the Maple Leafs and the Panthers on Feb. 26, 2026, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. (Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Richards is from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and began his career working for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. He worked with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins from 2002 to 2013.
After more than a decade in the AHL, he was promoted to assistant equipment manager for the Penguins. He remained there from 2013 to 2016, and was on the staff during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2016.
After the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, he left for the Panthers. He has been the Panthers’ equipment manager since the 2016-17 season.
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Florida Panthers equipment manager Teddy Richards celebrates with the Stanley Cup after game seven of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. (Dave Sandford/NHLI)
He has been with the team for both of its Stanley Cup championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
While with the Penguins, Richards worked under head coach Mike Sullivan, who was the head coach of Team USA in both the 2025 NHL 4-Nation Showdown and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Richards was the team equipment manager for both Team USA teams, and his connection with Sullivan helped him land the job.
