NHL team and US Olympic equipment manager suspended after arrest on domestic violence charge
The Florida Panthers have suspended their team equipment manager after he was arrested on charges of domestic violence and unauthorized use of 911 services.
Thaddeus ‘Teddy’ Richards is suspended from all team activities pending an investigation into the matter.
Richards was arrested Friday night in Coral Springs and is being held in Broward County Main Jail, according to online records. Details of the arrest remain unclear. The Daily Mail has sought further information from Coral Springs’s police records department, which is closed until Monday morning.
‘The Florida Panthers organization has been made aware of an incident involving the arrest of Equipment Manager Teddy Richards,’ read the team statement. ‘Effective immediately, he will be suspended from all team activities and facilities pending investigation.’
Richards was with the Panthers for both of the team’s Stanley Cup title wins in 2024 and 2025. And earlier this year, the 43-year-old was chosen as the equipment manager for Team USA’s Olympic squad, which went on to win gold against rival Canada.
A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania who played college football at Mansfield University, Richards’ career began with the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL affiliate in his hometown. In 2013, he was called up to Pittsburgh and Richards would remain with the Penguins for their 2016 Stanley Cup run before making the move to Florida.
The Florida Panthers have suspended equipment manager Teddy Richards after he was arrested on charges of domestic violence and unauthorized use of 911 services
Referee Jon McIsaac looks on as head equipment manager Teddy Richards repairs the helmet of Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers in 2022
It was Richards’ connection to the Penguins that may have helped him land a job with Team USA. Olympic coach Mike Sullivan was coaching in Pittsburgh when Richards was with the Penguins.
Richards has parlayed the success of the Panthers and Team USA into some notoriety for himself. He’s become a frequent guest on popular hockey podcasts and was the subject of a glowing Miami Herald profile back in March.
‘What a great American that guy is, and what a great person he [is]. And I know I contributed to it, but the work that he puts in day to day here, he and staff, and then what he did with Team USA,’ Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito told the Herald.
‘I mean, just the work and the labor is extraordinary. And I think he needs to be singled out. … I just want to say to Teddy how much we love him and appreciate him and respect what he does. He’s a pretty special guy.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Richards via email seeking his attorney information.
