Playing career
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] Ritchie featured in 7 games with the Avalanche, finishing with 1 goal, before he was returned to continue his development with junior club, the Oshawa Generals on October 24, 2024. [17] Ritchie resumed his top line centre role with the Generals. On March 6, 2025, having posted 67 points through 41 games in the OHL, he was traded by the Avalanche along with Oliver Kylington and conditional first-round and third-round selections to the New York Islanders in exchange for Brock Nelson and William Dufour. [18] Ritchie finished the OHL regular season with 15 goals and 55 assists in 47 games, [19] and was named to the league’s Third All-Star Team. [20] Ritchie then led the Generals on a deep run to the playoff finals. [19] Oshawa was ultimately defeated by the London Knights . [21]
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