Donny Richardson hasn’t played a game in 21 months.

So it’s easy to understand why the junior right wing is champing at the bit to take the ice for the University of Maine men’s hockey team against Clarkson University in the College Christmas Classic in Estero, Fla., at 5 p.m. today.

Ohio State and Cornell face off in the 8 p.m. game.

“I’m so happy it’s here. I was getting tired of sitting in the stands watching all the games. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I got to Maine,” said Richardson, who transferred to Maine from the University of Vermont in January.

He didn’t play in a game at Vermont last season due to a shoulder injury suffered during an intrasquad game.

The 21-year-old Richardson did play in the Bears’ annual Blue-White game in September and produced a goal and an assist.

“It might take me a couple of shifts to get used to the pace. At the same time, my adrenaline will be flowing because I’ll be so excited to play. That should make up for not being in game shape,” said Richardson.

Maine coach Shawn Walsh and his Bears are hoping the tenacious 5-foot-5, 160-pound native of Holbrook, N.Y., can jumpstart a sluggish Bear offense that has been held to three goals or fewer 13 times in 17 games.

The Bears are 1-3 in one-goal games and Richardson would like to help change that trend.

“The team isn’t totally excited about our record [7-6-4], so I’m going to do everything I can to contribute. We’ve got to start winning those one-goal games. With all the injuries and stuff, we haven’t had everything in our favor during the first half. Hopefully, we can turn things around in the second half,” said Richardson.

Maine has had five regulars miss at least two games due to injury.

Although the Bears need offense, Richardson knows defense comes first in the Maine system.

“I’m going to put a huge emphasis on the defensive side of the game. I’ve got to make sure I don’t give up scoring chances when I’m on the ice,” said Richardson. “We’ve had a tough time manufacturing goals this season so when I am in the offensive zone, I’m going to try to help out offensively as well.”

Walsh said he intends to play Richardson on a line with junior center Niko Dimitrakos and freshman left wing Brendan Donovan.

Although sitting in the stands for two seasons has been frustrating, said Richardson, it has also been beneficial in that he has “noticed things I wouldn’t have noticed if I had been on the ice. I’ve been able to pick up some things that way. I’ve used the year as a learning experience. I’ve also worked on individual aspects of my game.”

He said this past semester was a lot easier on him than the second semester last year because he knew his Maine debut was within sight.

Richardson had seven goals and eight assists in 32 games for the Catamounts during the 1998-99 season and was their leading freshman point-getter.

Two of his goals were game-winners and he was selected to the all-tourney team at the Governor’s Cup tourney won by Maine.