Great Falls defenseman Richesin makes college commitment

The Great Falls Americans, of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), are happy to announce that defenseman Luke Richesin has committed to play ACHA Division 1 hockey for Aquinas College.

The 6’0/210 lbs. native of Clovis, California, played in 118 regular season games and appeared in nine playoff contests for the Americans during his NA3HL career. Richesin, 21, played under two head coaches while suiting up for the Americans including Jeff Heimel (2017-18) and Greg Sears (2018-20) and scored 11 goals and dished out 35 assists in three seasons.

Luke earned two NA3HL Frontier Division Stars of the Week (Honorable Mention) honors and one NA3HL Star of the Month (Honorable Mention) for his play during his three-year junior hockey career with the Americans. All three league honors came during his final season (2019-20), where he earned Honorable Mention for his play during the week of September 22, 2018 and the week ending February 16, 2020. In September 2019, the California skater was awarded Honorable Mention as an NA3HL Defenseman Player of the Month.  

Before landing in Great Falls, Luke played with the San Jose Jr. Sharks, a Midget and Bantam AAA squad in California and spent two seasons (60 games) with the Western States Hockey League’s (WSHL) Fresno (CA) Monsters (2014-16).

Luke cited how proud he developed as a player and a member of the community while in Great Falls the past three years as accomplishments that have made him who he is now.

Richesin was very enthusiastic about both of his head coaches he played under for the Americans (Jeff Heimel and Greg Sears). “The coaching staff at Great Falls as always done a really good job. They support the community and playing in front of the fans at the Great Falls Ice Plex was an awesome atmosphere to play in.”

“I am very excited to move on and make that next step and further my education and play college hockey in Michigan,” said Richesin during his phone interview. “I am ready to showcase my skills after playing five years of junior hockey.”

He looks forward to being a rookie for the Saints as the “low man on the totem pole” he is excited to learn a new system under a new coach and playing with a more experienced group where he can develop into a better hockey player.

The California native plans on majoring in Business while minoring in Theology at Aquinas College.

Luke wanted to thank his two host families that made him feel welcome, Bob and Wendy Dick and Dave and Vicki Bertelsen. These families made his time in Great Falls memorable.

“Luke was a solid defenseman for us the last two years,” said Great Falls Americans Head Coach and General Manager, Greg Sears. “He was a big part of our success both seasons and was playing his best hockey in the playoffs this year. He will be missed, but we look forward to following his college career.”

Richesin joins former Great Falls American and California product Michael Fary, who played forward for Great Falls during the 2017-18 season, at Aquinas College next season.

Click here for an NA3HL college commitment list