Panthers equipment manager Thaddeus Richards arrested for battery charge

Equipment Manager Arrested

Thaddeus “Teddy” Richards, the equipment manager for both the USA Men’s National Hockey Team and the Florida Panthers, faced arrest in Florida on Friday. The charges include misdemeanor assault/domestic violence and improper use of 911 services, as reported by The Athletic.

Following his arrest, the Panthers announced his suspension from all team activities while an investigation takes place.

Richards, 43, was detained in Coral Springs and was held at the Broward Main Prison in Fort Lauderdale late Friday.

The Florida Panthers released a statement via their public relations account: “The organization has been made aware of the incident involving the arrest of Equipment Manager Teddy Richards. He is suspended from all team activities and facilities pending an investigation.”

Since the 2016-17 season, Richards has served as the Panthers’ equipment manager, a role during which he contributed to the team’s back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2024 and 2025.

In addition, he recently took on the position of head equipment manager for Team USA, having played a key role in the 2025 Quad National Championship and the 2026 Winter Games, where Team USA secured a gold medal.

A biography from Team USA notes that he was also the equipment manager during the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Richards expressed his feelings about his career in an interview: “Surreal is a good word,” he told the Miami Herald in March. “You’re chasing a dream or a fantasy, and somehow it’s coming true for me.”

Before joining the Panthers, Richards dedicated 14 years to the Penguins organization, including 11 years with their AHL affiliate and three years as the team’s assistant equipment manager. His experience there included the Penguins’ Stanley Cup-winning season in 2016.

Reflecting on his career, Richards shared, “The very honest answer is, hockey has been very good to my family. We have a good life. The hours are long, but like anything I do in life, there are long hours as well. My dad was a bus driver. It’s not a glamorous job, but he worked very long hours as well. But he enjoyed it, and it opened doors for me.”