Aug. 27--Former Kings center Mike Richards was charged with possession of a controlled substance after an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Winnipeg Free Press posted a copy of the document from the RCMP citing the substance as Oxycodone.
The charges, which were announced Thursday, were a byproduct of a two-month investigation by the agency. The probe was sparked by the detention of Richards at a Canadian border crossing on the afternoon of June 17.
Richards was detained for several hours at the Emerson border stop, an entry point from North Dakota into the Canadian province of Manitoba.
Canadian Border Services Agency officers intercepted the controlled substance at the Emerson port of entry, and the case was turned over to the RCMP, according to a statement Thursday from the RCMP in Manitoba. Richards will appear in Emerson Provincial Court on Sept. 10.
He did not respond to text messages for comment on Thursday.
Less than two weeks after Richards was detained at the border, the Kings moved to terminate his contract, citing "a material breach of the requirements of his standard player's contract."
"We are aware of the legal situation relating to Mike Richards," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, via email. "We will have no comment on the matter unless or until the situation warrants."
The Kings declined comment on the legal developments in Manitoba, citing the ongoing litigation regarding the contract grievance. Richards' agent also declined comment.
Earlier this month, the NHL Players Assn. announced that it would contest Richards' contract termination by the Kings.
No date for the hearing has been set. The impartial arbitrator hearing the case will be George Nicolau.
UPDATES
12:21 p.m.: Updates with confirmation of controlled substance as Oxycodone.
This story was originally published at 10:12 a.m.
