O'Connor finds new home in Wales

Photo: Dean Woolley

British defenseman Ben 'O Connor is joining the Cardiff Devils for 2021/22, after six straight seasons with the Sheffield Steelers.

The 32-year-old has picked up two League titles, a Playoff championship and a Challenge Cup title during his time in Sheffield, and O'Connor make his Elite League debut splitting the season with the Basingstoke Bison and Edinburgh Capitals in 2007. He had a season in Coventry before returning to Edinburgh in 2009.

The defenseman has also had sizable experience playing outside of the UK, spending a year in France, four in Kazakhstan, and the early part of 2018 in Sweden. In total, he has played 454 Elite League regular season games and put up 320 points.

On the international stage, O'Connor has been an integral part of Team Great Britain since 2009, with over 50 caps for the national team.

"Ben is a very talented player and has huge offensive upside. I started seriously watching him at the World Championships and was impressed with his overall game," said Head Coach Jarrod Skalde. "He skates so well, has great hands, he plays with poise and makes simple plays everywhere on the ice.

"I have spoken to him a ton over the last few weeks, and he is very motivated this season to show us that he can be a dominant player in this league again. I believe he can be as well."