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At the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Colorado Avalanche had been among the many few groups to have a number of first-round picks, together with their authentic decide at 27 and decide 31, which they obtained within the deal that despatched Alex Newhook to the Montreal Canadiens in return for different compensation (that decide initially got here from the Florida Panthers once they traded for Ben Chariot when he was with the Canadiens.)
With decide 31, the Avalanche chosen Mikhail Gulyayev, a defenseman from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). At decide 27, they chose Calum Ritchie from the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Oshawa Generals, with whom I used to be fortunate sufficient to sit down down with and talk about the draft course of, his time within the OHL, and what the longer term holds.
Ritchie’s Experience Throughout The Draft
The 18-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, was like many draftees who dreamed of that second since they first began enjoying and having the ability to make a residing off enjoying hockey. He defined the sheer pleasure he, his buddies, and his household felt after lastly listening to his title known as and the way the following 24 to 48 hours had been all a blur.
“Yeah, it was unreal that night. It was all kind of a blur after I got picked… my phone was blowing up from all my friends and family back home and my teammates, coaches, everyone, so it was a great night, and it was all kind of a blur, It was just best time of my life.”
Ritchie is the form of heart each workforce goals of getting. With his spectacular dimension, 6-foot-2 and 185 kilos, he boasts an entire ability set that makes him a invaluable asset in all conditions. When he’s wholesome, he’s unstoppable. After the draft, Ritchie was approached by many Avalanche gamers, who reached out to rejoice his accomplishment and supply their greatest needs.
“Yeah, (Nathan) MacKinnon texted me, asking me to call him, so next morning I was able to give him a call, which is obviously really cool, It was unreal, and then Landeskog texted me, Makar, Devon Toews and then also Cogliano.”
Ritchie’s Time And Growth In The OHL
Drafted second general within the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and getting into his third season with the Generals, Ritchie appears to proceed to develop in his sport. He expressed gratitude for the assist of the Generals’ employees in serving to him develop as a participant and ensuring to remain wholesome and match always.
“Yeah, it’s been great, obviously, first class organization, I don’t think there’s a better place to play in junior hockey, so I’m really just glad I was selected by them and that I’m playing here, I think I’ve developed my game a lot while playing here, and obviously, with my shoulder and stuff, the trainers have been great helping me with that. Yeah, I can’t thank them enough.”
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Staying wholesome has been difficult for Ritchie as he has been coping with shoulder accidents the previous few seasons. He tore his labrum on the Hlinka Tournament in 2022-23 and needed to get surgical procedure to restore it. Unfortunately, this has been a recurring challenge that has occurred 3 times up to now 12 months. Thankfully, not solely have the Generals helped him out along with his coaching and restoration, however Andrew Cogliano has reached out to advise him on the right way to take care of these points.
“I think when he texted me, saying that he could help me with my shoulder, that was awesome for me, and obviously a guy I grew up watching a lot of… Kind of really shows how dialed in they are. And he’s a great leader, obviously, he’s helping out some 18-year-old kid with an injury, right? So, I mean, he obviously cares a lot about the organization, so I’m just really happy part of it.”
Ritchie missed the start of this season after present process surgical procedure to restore his shoulder, and the Generals bought off to a chilly begin. Now again with the workforce, he has 5 objectives and 11 assists for 16 factors in 13 video games, and the Generals sit simply six factors again from the highest of the East Division. Ritchie expressed his gratitude for being again on the ice so rapidly after the operations. He additionally emphasised the workforce’s temper within the locker room now that they’re on a three-game profitable streak.
You don’t win championships in October/November, we gotta have a very good second half right here and put ourselves in a great place into playoffs, after which clearly, something can occur in playoffs, however I believe we have now the workforce that may do it. Right now, we’re kinda specializing in what we are able to management, and that’s simply coming in and dealing exhausting each day and simply attempting to enhance.
What The Future Holds For Ritchie
He understands the stress of being a first-round draft decide and acknowledges the belief that president of hockey operations Joe Sakic and normal supervisor Chris MacFarland have positioned in him to grow to be the perfect hockey participant he could be. He takes possession of his work and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of his sport with a view to enhance. Nathan Mackinnon’s sport serves as an inspiration to Ritchie, who observes the exhausting work Mackinnon places into his personal sport. Ritchie applies this similar degree of dedication to his personal efficiency and works exhausting to enhance by adopting Mackinnon’s work ethic and strategy.
Ritchie is set to enhance his expertise and grow to be the perfect participant he could be. He understands and welcomes the stress from followers who’ve put their belief in him to grow to be the following generational heart for the workforce. He is aware of it’ll inspire him and that every little thing he has achieved in his younger profession is placing him on the suitable path.
I believe there’s all the time expectations, and I believe thats an ideal factor, having stress means your doing one thing proper, and other people anticipate stuff from you. I believe I anticipate loads from myself, so I’m not too frightened, the expectations for myself are increased then something within the media. I’ve all the time had that rising up, so its kinda a very good factor to take care of”.
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