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- Devil ‘Richie’ Celebrates Landmark Cap In GB Success
Defenceman Mark Richardson says Great Britain showed great guts and determination to come from behind and beat Poland 5-3 at the World Championships.
The Cardiff Devils defenceman reached a personal milestone as he became the ninth player to reach 75 caps for GB.
Britain were trailing 3-2 at the end of the second period before third-period goals from Brendan Brooks and Ben O’Connor, added to by an empty-net goal from Jonathan Phillips, secured coach Peter Russell’s side their second win in Budapest.
GB are one of three teams on six points from three Division One Group A matches.
“Poland are a great nation and we have some terrific battles against them,” said Richardson.
“We made it hard work for ourselves in the second period, but we came back and secured a terrific win.
“There is a great spirit in the camp and I think that showed with the way we found a way to get the win.”
“The most important thing was to get the win but it was great to reach 75 caps.
“To reach such a milestone is special and I love playing for GB.”
‘Rich’ made his 75th appearance, while fellow GB d-man Ben O’Connor scored the game-winning goal against Poland in his 50th international match.
“It was an amazing moment to share with best friends,” said 29-year-old O’Connor. “Scoring was a special way to crown my 50th cap, get the game-winning goal and the man-of-the-match award.
“I am so proud to pull on the GB jersey and to do it with your best friends is very special indeed.”
O’Connor is second on the points-scoring list for GB defencemen with 15 goals and 25 assists, only behind Jonathan Weaver.
GB were 3-2 down going into the final period and O’Connor says: “We had to dig deep and find a way, so this was a gutsy performance.
“Words were said in the dressing room at the second interval as we knew we weren’t good enough.
“But we battled to the end and I think we deservedly came out on top.”
Group standings
| R | Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF:GA | PTS |
| 1 | KAZ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9:4 | 6 |
| 2 | ITA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8:4 | 6 |
| 3 | GBR | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9:10 | 6 |
| 4 | SLO | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7:8 | 3 |
| 5 | POL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8:10 | 3 |
| 6 | HUN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:9 | 3 |
GB squad:
Netminders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff), Jackson Whistle (Belfast), Thomas Murdy (Cardiff-reserve).
Defence: Dallas Ehrhardt, Paul Swindlehurst (both Manchester), Steve Lee (Nottingham), Ben O’Connor, David Phillips (Sheffield), Mark Richardson (Cardiff), Zach Sullivan (Braehead).
Forwards: Ollie Betteridge, Robert Farmer, Robert Lachowicz, Brett Perlini (Nottingham), Brendan Brooks (Braehead), Ben Davies (Guildford), Robert Dowd, Jonathan Phillips, Liam Kirk (Sheffield), Luke Ferrara (Coventry), Mike Hammond (Manchester), Matthew Myers (Cardiff), Colin Shields (Belfast).
