Ritchie leads Canada in start of World Junior Championships
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The World Juniors get underway today with the usual suspects contending. While the NHL and Colorado Avalanche have another day off, there is still hockey to be played. The World Junior Championships get started today with four matchups, one already having taken place as of the publishing of this article.
We all know what time of the year this is! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/oR8fNgbYnX— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 26, 2024
While those in their respective countries will be following them, fans in Colorado should be watching one man in particular: Calum Ritchie.
The lone Av playing in this tournament, Ritchie played seven games with the Avalanche earlier this season. He recorded his first career NHL goal against the New York Islanders. He didn’t play his full nine-game trial as he could’ve before burning a year of his entry-level contract, and it was obvious he wasn’t quite ready yet to make the jump full-time into the NHL.
Welcome to the league Cal Ritchie! And what a celly! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/S1Oto90yYQ— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) October 15, 2024
After being sent back to the Oshawa Generals in the OHL, he has lit the lamp almost nightly. In 18 games, he has eight goals and an even more impressive 26 assists for 34 total points. With ease, he made Team Canada for this tournament taking place heading into the New Year.
Ritchie is not only dominating with Oshawa and representing his national team, but he is also an assistant captain for Canada. Even in his short stint in Colorado this season, you could see how he held his own and worked hard, certainly earning the respect of his teammates and coaching staff for the honor. He’s expected to center the top line.
Meet the captains! / Voici nos capitaines! C: Brayden Yager (@WHLHurricanes)A: Tanner Molendyk (@BladesHockey)A: Calum Ritchie (@Oshawa_Generals)#WorldJuniors | #MondialJunior pic.twitter.com/LqJoREpnFz— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 19, 2024
Ritchie and Canada play later this evening at 5:30 p.m. MT against Finland and will face off against the United States on New Year's Eve at 6:00 p.m. MT. All matches in the tournament can be found on NHL Network, and the full slate of games can be found below.
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