The first two recipients of the Oakley Player and Goaltender of the Week awards for the 2006-2007 season have been determined. Three-time All-Star Chris Richards has been named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week for the CHL’s opening week, while Rio Grande Valley rookie netminder Mathieu Blanchard has been selected as the Oakley Goaltender of the Week.

Richards, who finished second in the CHL with 70 assists last year, managed seven points in back to back road wins over the Memphis RiverKings. In Friday’s season opener he figured in on three power play goals, assisting on goals by Paul Esdale and Jeff Christian while also scoring his first goal of the year. Richards added his second in the shootout, potting the game winning goal in a 5-4 win. The following night he added three more special teams points in a 4-2 win, assisting on another power play marker while scoring twice, once shorthanded and once with the man advantage. Richard’s seven points give him the early season CHL scoring lead.

Rio Grande Valley goaltender Mathieu Blanchard made the most of his first professional start, recording a 24 save 2-1 win over the visiting Arizona Sundogs on Saturday evening. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Blanchard allowed just a single power play goal to help the Killer Bees post their first win of the young season. “Definitely the first save is huge for a goalie. You definitely want that to happen early,” Blanchard told the McAllen Monitor. “The guys did a good job keeping things on the perimeter. For me that was a huge help.”