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The Wildcats Column: Nell And Richardson, Record Breakers
There is cause for celebration this week over in the Swindon Wildcats' camps, as two fans' favourites approach major milestones in their respective ice hockey careers. This week Total Sport columnist Ben Callaghan pays tribute to Aaron Nell and Lee Richardson.
This week is a special week for the Swindon Wildcats. Two former captains and modern day legends of the club have either broken or about to break some personal milestones, a feat which few others have achieved and ones which I feel really need applauding.
Last Sunday Aaron Nell iced in his 300th EPIHL regular season game. Aaron joined the Wildcats in 2008, having spent some time in Canada developing his game in the junior leagues. Scoring 37 points in his debut season he instantly became a fan favourite and a popular figure around the club. Especially with his Dad being the owner and his Mum, Brother and Sister all helping to run the club on a day to day basis. Despite a couple of spells in the EIHL with Coventry and Sheffield, Aaron has only ever iced for one club, the Wildcats. He’s without doubt the best British player in the EPL, and his stats back that up.
In 300 games he’s scored a massive 488 points, with 265 goals and 223 assists at an average of 1.63 points per game. For a home grown player those are phenomenal stats. His shot is the thing he’s best known for, twice he’s led the EPL in goals scored (60 goals in the 2012/2013 season & 39 goals in the 2014/2015 season). In more recent seasons his partnership with Jonas Höög has become the most lethal duo in the league, and they still link up as well today as they did on day one when Jonas first signed. Aaron is Swindon Wildcats through and through, this season he’s also been the player coach and for a guy just aged 26 - and in the prime of his playing career - it’s easy to forget what a brilliant job he’s done so far. There are so many Wildcats records he could still break and I couldn’t think of a better guy to be leading the team in the way he does. Hopefully there are plenty more years ahead for #19 both playing and coaching.
Lee Richardson will be icing his 400th regular season game in a Wildcats jersey on Saturday night against the Steeldogs. Lee himself joined the club in 2007, arriving from the Cardiff Devils in the EIHL. Lee’s first season saw him score 30 points in 40 games as he began his Wildcats career. One incredible stat which I always look at when I speak of ‘Richie’ is between 2008 and 2012 he didn’t miss a single game. No injuries, no suspensions just sheer commitment to the team and the cause for four straight seasons.
In more recent years Lee has seen his game transform from the face-off winning centre to a solid and reliable D man. He always was one of the best two-way players in the league and, since his return from Slough in December 2013, has now become a key member of the defence at the Wildcats. Next year Lee ices in his 10th season for the Wildcats and will get a testimonial match at the end of the season. I don’t know of a guy who deserves one more for what he’s done for hockey in Swindon, it’s something which is absolutely deserved.
Both Aaron and Lee have captained the team and I couldn’t name two more approachable guys off the ice than these two. They both have big achievements this week and I’d bet they both say they’re irrelevant to them as long as the team win, but I think they’re achievements worth celebrating.
Hopefully this weekend will be another 4 pointer as we look to build some momentum before the end of season playoffs.
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