The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Calum Ritchie to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Ritchie, 19, played for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2023-24 where he registered 80 points (28g/52a) in 50 regular-season games, ranking sixth in the league with 1.60 points per game. The centerman missed the Generals’ first 17 games due to a shoulder injury. Despite playing in 50 games, Ritchie paced Oshawa in assists and points and ranked tied for third in goals en route to the Generals capturing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In postseason play, Ritchie added 30 points (8g/22a) in 21 OHL Playoff games to rank second in the league and help guide Oshawa to an OHL Finals appearance.

During the recent OHL season, the forward, who stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 187 pounds, completed his third season in the league. Throughout this period from 2021 to 2024, he amassed a total of 184 points, with 71 goals and 113 assists, in 174 regular-season games. Notably, he displayed a significant improvement of 14 points from 2021 to 2023 and a remarkable year-over-year improvement of 21 points from 2022 to 2024. Despite being limited to 59 games during the 2022-23 campaign, he managed to secure the third-highest number of points on the team. Additionally, his outstanding performance during the 2021-22 season earned him a spot on the 2022 OHL First All-Rookie Team. In postseason play, he has demonstrated his skills by accumulating 43 points, including 14 goals and 29 assists, over 32 OHL Playoff games with the Generals from 2021 to 2024.

Ritchie showcased his skills on an international level as he proudly represented Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship. During the tournament, he made a significant impact by contributing nine points (3 goals and 9 assists), placing him in the third position on the team’s scoring leaderboard. His exceptional performance played a crucial role in Canada’s achievement of the bronze medal. Furthermore, Ritchie’s undeniable talent was evident when he secured a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Throughout the five games, he exhibited remarkable consistency by sharing the top spot in points among all skaters, tallying an impressive total of 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists). Ritchie hails from Brampton, Ontario, adding an extra level of pride to his international accomplishments.

Ritchie was selected by Colorado in the first round (27^th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s attended each of the last two Avalanche Development Camps.