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Calum Ritchie

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Calum Ritchie
Born (2005-01-21) January 21, 2005 (age 19)
Brampton, Ontario, Canada[1][2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Colorado Avalanche
Oshawa Generals (OHL)
NHL draft 27th overall, 2023
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2024–present

Calum Ritchie (born January 21, 2005) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a prospect to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 27th overall by the Avalanche in the 2023 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic hampered Ritchie's final pre-major junior season with the Oakville Rangers, though toward the final months of what would have been the 2020–21 season restrictions were eased sufficiently for the team to practice and eventually play showcase games. He was taken by the Oshawa Generals in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League draft. Debuting with the Generals in the 2021–22 season, Ritchie managed 45 points in 65 regular season games, and a further seven points in six playoff games. He was second in scoring among players under the age of 17.[3] He was named to the league's First All-Rookie Team.[4]

While playing with Team Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Ritchie sustained a shoulder injury that would become a recurring problem during the 2022–23 season, with his shoulder dislocating four different times. He produced 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 regular season games with the Generals.[5][6] Considered a possible top ten selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft following the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, his draft year struggles negatively impacted his standing thereafter.[7] Ritchie was ultimately taken late in the first round, 27th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche.[8]

Ritchie underwent shoulder surgery following the 2023 NHL scouting combine, and as a result made his 2023–24 season debut only on November 12.[6] With his shoulder issues behind him, he enjoyed success, posting 80 points in 50 regular season games.[9][10] In recognition of his achievements, he was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.[11] The Generals went on a deep run in the 2024 playoffs, reaching the OHL Finals, where they were swept by the London Knights in four games. Ritchie managed 30 points in 21 playoff games.[9][12][13]

After participating in his first Colorado Avalanche Rookie camp in preparation for the 2024–25 season, Ritchie was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the club on July 9, 2024.[14] With a number of the team's veteran players sidelined by injury, he was named to the Avalanche's opening night roster.[15]On October 14, 2024, Ritchie scored his first career NHL goal against New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin in a 6-2 loss to the Islanders.[16]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Switzerland
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Gold medal – first place 2022 Canada

Ritchie made his international debut for Canada with the national under-18 team at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he recorded four goals and six assists in five games, winning gold with the team.[17] His ten points led the tournament in scoring.[7] He rejoined the team for the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships the following spring. He had three goals and six assists in seven games, while Team Canada won the bronze medal.[18][19]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2021–22 Oshawa Generals OHL 65 19 26 45 12 6 4 3 7 4
2022–23 Oshawa Generals OHL 59 24 35 59 35 5 2 4 6 2
2023–24 Oshawa Generals OHL 50 28 52 80 20 21 8 22 30 16
OHL totals 174 71 113 184 67 32 14 29 43 22

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Canada HG18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 4 6 10 2
2023 Canada U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 3 6 9 4
Junior totals 12 7 12 19 6

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
OHL
First All-Rookie Team 2022 [4]
Second All-Star Team 2024 [11]

References

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  1. ^ Little, Devin (4 April 2023). "Calum Ritchie – 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile". thehockeywriters.com.
  2. ^ "Calum Ritchie - Centre/Right Wing". TSN. Toronto ON: BellMedia. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ Wheeler, Scott (November 9, 2022). "How Calum Ritchie's curiosity turned him into a top 2023 NHL Draft prospect". The Athletic. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "OHL Announces 2021-22 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. June 21, 2022. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (June 6, 2023). "Ritchie shows resilience managing shoulder injury ahead of 2023 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Kimelman, Adam (February 17, 2024). "CHL notebook: Avalanche prospect Ritchie thinking, looking like pro". NHL.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cosentino, Sam; Bukala, Jason (June 28, 2023). "Prospect of Interest: Why Calum Ritchie is a polarizing player in 2023 draft". Sportsnet. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Durando, Bennett (June 28, 2023). "Avalanche draft center Calum Ritchie with No. 27 pick in 2023 NHL draft". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Rawal, Evan (May 16, 2024). "Calum Ritchie's Dynamite OHL Season Comes To An End". Colorado Hockey Now. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Stockl, Joely (January 26, 2024). "How Calum Ritchie's curiosity turned him into a top 2023 NHL Draft prospect". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Sweetland, Josh (May 28, 2024). "OHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Brown, Jared (May 19, 2024). "The Oshawa Generals Exceeded Expectations and Should Be Excited For The Future". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "Calum Ritchie on his big 2023-24 season, goals for summer and beyond". Colorado Avalanche. July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Avalanche signs Calum Ritchie". Colorado Avalanche. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  15. ^ Rawal, Evan (October 8, 2024). "Nikolai Kovalenko, Calum Ritchie headline youth movement on Avalanche". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  16. ^ Maeir, Coby (October 14, 2024). "Avalanche Fall 6-2 at Home to Islanders". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Vickers, Aaron (July 25, 2022). "Yager among top 2023 draft picks to play for Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup". NHL.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  18. ^ "Calum Ritchie named to Team Canada for IIHF U18 World Championship". oshawagenerals.com. April 15, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Kelly, Tim (April 18, 2023). "Oshawa Generals' Calum Ritchie playing for Canada again in world U18 hockey championship". durhamregion.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Colorado Avalanche first round draft pick
2023 		Succeeded by
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