LEE Richardson says the Swindon Wildcats’ defence have no worries playing in front of new netminder Jordan Hedley.

Stevie Lyle has been the Cats’ number one stopper for the previous two seasons but has opted to cut back his responsibilities between the pipes since taking over as head coach at the Link Centre over the summer.

Youngster Hedley joined the Cats from Milton Keynes Lightning ahead of the new English Premier League campaign and has already been given plenty of chances to shine - he played the full 60 minutes against both Hull Pirates and Peterborough Phantoms last weekend.

Although Hedley is almost 17 years Lyle’s junior and has a chasm less experience to draw upon, Richardson and the rest of the Cats D-men have no less confidence when it is he who is behind them.

“Sometimes when a back-up goalie is in you think about him being a back-up goalie but with Jordan, we don’t,” said Richardson.

“Stevie likes to play the puck a lot more and Jordan doesn’t like to play the puck as much so it does make a bit of a difference, especially as a D-man, but he is as good as any other goalie in the league, British or otherwise.”

As well as a new netminder behind him, Richardson – who has been with the Cats since 2007 – has also had to get used to some new defensive colleagues.

Veteran Neil Liddiard and youngsters Matt Selby and Harvey Stead all arrived at the Link Centre for the new English Premier League campaign and Richardson is delighted with what they have brought to the table.

“Lids and Selby are a bit more of a physical presence. Despite being older, Lids is still very physical and he battles hard and that was what we needed,” said Richardson.

“And Harvey has come in and played above his level. He is reliable and does his job.

“They have done well.

“All three of them have added positive things for us but I think as a six ,we need to be better still and we want to be better still.

“Hopefully if we can, it will help the team out.”