Oakville native and Oshawa forward Ritchie makes NHL roster

Cal Ritchie is beginning the season in the NHL.

The Colorado Avalanche announced Monday (Oct. 7) the Oakville native and Oshawa Generals centre is one of 21 players to be named to the starting roster.

A 27-overall pick of the Avalanche in 2023, Ritchie recorded a career-high 28 goals and 52 assists for 80 points in 50 games while leading the Generals to the OHL finals.

The talented playmaker was taken second overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and has collected 71 goals and 113 assists for 184 points in 174 major junior hockey games.

Ritchie missed last year’s Avalanche training camp with a shoulder injury that also forced him to miss the beginning of the season in Oshawa.

“It’s awesome,” Ritchie told ColoradoAvalanche.com at the beginning of this year’s camp. “I’m so glad I’m able to be out there with the guys. It’s just a great experience to be out there and I’m just learning so much from everyone.”

The 19-year-old posted a highlight-reel goal early in camp (see video) and finished the preseason with a goal and assist.

The Avalanche can play Ritchie in nine games before deciding whether to keep him or return him to junior hockey. Once a signed player plays 10 games the first year of their NHL contract kicks in.