Devils confirm 16th season for longest serving player
Pictured above: Richardson has captained the Devils for the past two seasons (photo James Assinder)
Mark Richardson returns to the Devils for the 2023-24 season, which will be his 16th year with the club.
Last season he scored 4 goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 72 games in all competitions. He capped off his season with Team GB at the World Championships winning gold and gaining promotion to the top level of the World Championships next year.
Pictured above: Richardson in action against the Panthers (photo James Assinder)
Richardson who first played for the Devils when he was just 19 years old, turn 37 in October, and continues to be one of the top defenceman in the Elite League. He is one of the league leaders in ice time every season and is the Devils top shot blocker, making him invaluable on the penalty kill.
Earlier this season, Richardson played his 1,000th Elite League game, one of only three players in league history to reach this milestone.
Pictured above: Dundee Owner Steve Ward with Mark before his 1,000th EIHL game (photo Derek Black)
During his career with the Devils, he has had stints away from the EIHL, spending the 2007-08 season with the Nottingham Panthers, then the following season split between the Panthers and the Basingstoke Bison. During his time with Nottingham, his coach Corey Neilson converted him from a slick skating forward into a defenceman, and the rest is history.
CLICK HERE to go to Richardson's Elite Prospects profile
He started the 2012-13 season in Kazakhstan with Arlan Kokshetau before returning to the Devils after 13 games. Richardson also spent a season away from Cardiff in 2020-21 when the Elite League season was cancelled due to Covid-19. He played in the German DEL2 that season for Bad Nauheim.
Pictured above: Richardson celebrates a goal with Josh Batch (photo James Assinder)
Head Coach Pete Russell has coached Richardson for years with Team GB and knows what he is getting in his latest signing.
“Mark is still one of, if not the best British defenceman in the league.
“He is so good defensively, a great shot blocker, reads the game so well and knows when to jump into the play. He moves the puck well and has great poise.
“Mark is a true professional and keeps himself in great shape, which is why he continues to be able to play to such high levels and can so many minutes.
“He has played for me with Team GB since U18, knows me as a person, my coaching style and the system we want to play. Mark was a big reason why I wanted to come to Cardiff. He has spoken highly about the organisation for the last number of years.”
The Devils' John Donovan recently sat down with Mark Richardson to discuss re-signing with the Devils. Watch the full interview below:
