Mac and Marshy Set Up Richie’s Big Testimonial Night

Former Devils captains Mac Faulkner and Tyson Marsh completed their draft pick at the Cornerstone in Cardiff.

The battle lines are drawn and the two Canadians will lead their players out for tonight’s Mark Richardson testimonial match at Ice Arena Wales (Tuesday, 7.30pm).

The draft dinner was packed with Devils fans plus Richardson’s friends and team-mates and Luke Piggott was Faulkner’s first round pick, while Marsh started with Chris Jones followed by Gerad Adams.

Devils coach Andrew Lord was the final selection of the draft and is in Faulkner’s team, while defenceman Andrew Hotham was originally selected by Marsh before being traded to the White team.

Richardson will be joined by his brothers Grant and Lee on the ice for a match to mark his 11 years as a Devils player.

Great Britain international Mark has made 636 appearances for Cardiff (71 goals, 186 assists), while his career record including Devils, Nottingham, Swindon and K-League Arlan Kokshetau is 932 matches (142+272).

Richardson played a key role for Great Britain when they won the World Championship gold medal and earned promotion earlier this year and GB coach Peter Russell says: “Mark is honest, committed, passion and more.

“He is a great professional, a smart player and a classy guy. He really deserves this testimonial tribute.

“People often don’t realise what he brings to a team. Mark is on the powerplay, penalty kill and is totally team responsible.”

Tonight’s (Tuesday) testimonial is the centrepiece for a massive Devils party at the IAW in Cardiff Bay with Richardson’s friends, family and team-mates paying tribute.

Richie’s career moments in his own words:

Most emotional match: 

“The moment Devils captain Gerad Adams called me up to lift the Challenge Cup with him. My dad , Dave, had passed away and emotionally it was a tough time, but that was huge.

My brother, Lee, was playing for Coventry Blaze and they played Devils in the two-leg Cup final in 2006.

Blaze won 3-0 in the first leg and that was bitterly disappointing. After the game I had a phone call saying dad was in hospital and not doing too good.

My mum had been hoping things would be okay and hadn’t said anything before the game. Lee and I went back to Swindon and dad was in intensive care for a week. I stayed there, of course, and he passed away in the early hours of Friday morning.

I was only 19-years-old at the time.

The boys were surprised when I turned up, but that’s what my dad would have wanted. He had played a big part in my hockey career.

I really felt we could still win the trophy and going on to win that game was emotional, a whirlwind game which sits up there with the most memorable of my career.

Remps (Nathan Rempel) scored a hat-trick and G was our other scorer. We won after penalties, Rejean Stringer netting the goal that clinched our win, and that was such a great feeling. I will never forget that moment.”

Most memorable season

“There have been a fair few seasons I remember with real pleasure, a lot of those with Devils.

Perhaps, though, looking back it was the season I played alongside my brother, Lee, for Bracknell Bees. It was a memorable year because we won the British National League and the BNL Cup.

It was also the last full season my dad watched us play.

Lee and I played together again for Devils, of course, and that was the first year of Big Blue Tent hockey. That was challenging because we were training in Bristol and had to play a lot of early away fixtures.”

Thanks guys . . . Richie picks out a few of those who have helped him:

My parents, of course, come first. My dad, Dave, used to pick me up from school and drive me to, say, Hull for England under-16 practice late at night, often 11pm. Then we’d drive home and he’s be taking me to a game somewhere the next day.

Proudest moment:

“That Scott Matzka match match at Ice Arena Wales was phenomenal. Easily my proudest moment of my hockey career. It was wonderful to see how everybody rallied round to do their bit.

To see Scott and his family come in and send out such a positive message at a difficult time. It was mind-blowing. Incredibly positive.

“The hockey community made me proud that day. Not only Cardiff fans and players, but the entire hockey community. A remarkable evening.”

Tickets are still available via the club’s official website at cardiffdevils.com or by calling 0800 0842 666.

Team White (Captain Mac Faulkner): Thomas Murdy, Joe Myers, Luke Piggott, Mark Smith, Callum Buglass, Sean Bentivoglio, Lee Richardson, Mark Louis, Kenton Smith, Neil Francis, Alex Symonds, Gleason Fournier, Dease Bigalo, Craig Moore, Phil Hill, Max Birbraer, Andrew Hotham, Matthew Myers, Sam Smith, Justin Faryna, Patrick Asselin, Ben Davies, Andrew Lord.

Team Black (Captain Tyson Marsh): Mike Will, Ben Bowns, Stevie Lyle, Chris Jones, Gerad Adams, Jake Morissette, Drew Parish, Guillaume Doucet, Joey Martin, Paul Sample, Bryce Reddick, Josh Batch, Jason Stone, Joey Haddad, Matt Pope, Layne Ulmer, Grant Richardson, Carl Hudson, Tyson Strachan, Matt Towe, Paul Crowder.