Mark Richardson becomes the fifth Great Britain player to reach the 100-cap milestone in this evening’s World Championship game with Austria in Tampere.

The 35-year-old was presented with his special cap during a ceremony in the locker room led by GB General Manager Andy Buxton and Ice Hockey UK General Secretary Andy French.

Richardson made his GB debut 17 years ago and has since been part of 20 major tournaments with the national side.

His first goal came in only his fifth game in his debut tournament in 2005 when he was on the scoresheet in a 10-0 win over China in the World Championship Division 1 Group A in Hungary.

The four other players to reach a century of caps are David Longstaff, Matthew Myers, Ashley Tait and Jonathan Phillips, who today moves onto 111 appearances to become the most-capped GB player in history.

GB Head Coach, Pete Russell, said: “To play 100 games for your country is a very special achievement.

“Mark Richardson is such a key part of our team on and off the ice. He’s brings so much to the locker room and is one of our leaders on the ice.

“He has been such a key part of our recent success.”

GB General Manager, Andy Buxton, said: “An outstanding member of the team, Richie will win his gold cap on the world’s biggest stage before our biggest game.”