Even teachers are allowed to think big.

Not unlike many hockey people, James Richmond has long dreamed of reaching the National Hockey League. He can now officially say he’s arrived.

The head coach and general manager for the Aurora Tigers has built a healthy reputation as a teacher in hockey circles, regularly conducting personal and small-group lessons in local rinks.

Through the hockey grapevine, the Los Angeles Kings took note and have brought the veteran junior coach into their player development ranks.

Richmond, who is entering his fourth season with the Ontario Junior Hockey League franchise, spent last week working with Kings’ prospects at a rookie and prospects camp held at the NHL team’s training facility near Los Angeles.

The camp, which included the 2013 crop of Kings’ draft picks, marked the first official duty for Richmond within the organization as part of the developmental staff.

In all, the camp included 19 skaters and four goalie prospects.

Officially, the Kings quietly brought Richmond on board following their dismissal from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“They’ve treated me like gold,” said the 49-year-old Richmond, a resident of Oak Ridges. “It’s an unbelievable organization from (president/general manager) Dean Lombardi on down.

“I love being on the ice, teaching and coaching. I’m pretty excited and pumped to be part of the Kings. I’ve always dreamed about being part of the NHL. You always want to get there one way or the other. For me, I want to be between the boards and on the ice with players.”

Richmond, whose expertise is in skating development, has worked with players at amateur and professional levels for several years locally and in Europe. In fact, he departs for Denmark Sunday to work for 10 days with a collection of pro and amateur players from Europe and North America.

Despite his new job, fans of the Tigers need not worry, assured Richmond, who intends to honour the fourth and final year of his current contract with the OJHL club.

“I’m in both places at least for this year,” confirmed Richmond, pointing out the Kings have offered to work around the Tigers’ schedule when possible. “The (Tigers) owners are 100 per cent behind me. I think they see the benefit in having a coach affiliated with an NHL team. I think it’s great, selfishly, but also I think the players with the Aurora Tigers can benefit, too.”

Richmond will split his Kings time between the NHL team and its American Hockey League affiliate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

He applied for the position during last season and has since been on the radar of the 2011 Stanley Cup champions since. Eventually, the Kings sent evaluators to observe Richmond’s work first-hand.

“They flew in to watch how I do it so it was like a tryout for me,” said Richmond. “It went better than I hoped. It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time but also bringing the stuff they’re interested in, too.”

In L.A., Richmond put in 11-hour working days with on-ice sessions complemented by off-ice video work with each player. He spent five to six hours per day on the ice.

“They put these kids through workouts like I’ve never seen,” said Richmond, who played collegiately in the NCAA and professionally in Europe. “It’s absolute warfare in the workouts. They talk about culture and how you have to be a 200-foot guy. It’s all fine, fine detail. I never knew it was to this extent. After going through this camp it shows me why the Kings are at the top end.”