Calum Ritchie learned some valuable lessons when he was chosen by Oshawa with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Now, the 17-year-old center is using those lessons to guide him in the lead-up to the 2023 NHL Draft.
“We learned from that experience that it doesn’t matter where you get drafted, it matters how much you improve, and when you get to the organization, how hard you push yourself to be a factor in the lineup, and have a good role in that,” Ritchie said. “It’s a big takeaway, getting drafted.”
Ritchie, who could be a potential first-round pick in the 2023 draft, had 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 65 games and was named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie team last season. He also had seven points (four goals, three assists) in six playoff games for Oshawa.
It was a solid season for Ritchie, who did not play with the Oakville Rangers, a minor hockey team in Ontario, in 2020-21 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the canceled season, Ritchie found a way to improve his skills by working out with his older brother, Ethan, who is a defenseman for Sarnia of the OHL.
“I thought it was a great year overall,” Ritchie said. “It helped my development a lot. I learned a lot from my coaches and teammates. We grew a lot as a team and I’m looking forward to playing next year.”
Next year has already started for Ritchie, who is playing for Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, an under-18 international tournament that is being held in Red Deer, Alberta, until Aug. 6. He had one goal and three assists in a 14-0 win against Switzerland in the opening preliminary round game on Sunday.
“He is the frontline type of center that NHL clubs covet,” said director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. “He’s an NHL skater with excellent offensive tools to generate and finish scoring chances. He’s capable of getting the job done in all situations, and he consistently wins a high percentage of face-offs, which all adds up to making him a high-value prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft.”
Despite the attention, Ritchie believes he still has a lot to improve upon, both on and off the ice.
His focus this season is to get quicker, stronger, and improve his shot and playmaking ability while refining his 200-foot game.
“I’d say I’m a two-way center,” Ritchie said. “I think my biggest asset would probably be my hockey IQ and how I see the game. I think I process it pretty quickly, and I like to move the puck and make those little quick plays, those 2-foot passes, bumping it and getting into space. I try to play a skilled game, but I can also play a grinder game as well, I think. I try to be a well-rounded player.”
He’s not ready to compare himself to other players in his draft class, though.
“I’d say honestly it’s too early to tell,” Ritchie said. “I’m not really focused on that right now. I’m just trying to get better every single day to put myself in the best position moving forward in the future. It doesn’t matter where I get drafted, to be honest. I just want to play in the NHL. I’m just going to do everything I can.”
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