Ritchie with Team Canada. (Submitted photo/Ryder Ritchie)

By Nolan Kowal

Gold standard

Ritchie reminisces about U18 gold, upcoming NHL draft

May 8, 2024 | 5:23 PM

Ryder Ritchie is heading into the 2024 National Hockey League Draft on a high note.

The star Prince Albert Raiders forward just won gold with Team Canada at the IIHF World U18 Championships. Ritchie scored a goal in the gold medal game as Canada defeated the United States 6-4 last Sunday in Espoo, Finland.

“It was definitely a dream come true…getting to represent Canada again, it’s awesome,” said Ritchie, who is projected to go in the first round of the NHL Draft in June. “You grow up watching it and wanting to play at those tournaments so getting the opportunity to represent my country and winning makes it so much better.”

“So definitely one of the highlights of my life and something that I’ll remember forever.”

Ritchie also touched on what it was like to experience one of the fiercest rivalries in junior hockey: Canada vs. the United States.

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“That team (the U.S.) plays together for two years straight and we just got a team assembled in a three week span, so to beat them felt unreal,” said the 17-year-old winger. “The two countries don’t like each other…I mean they’re going head to head for best in the world. So getting to be a part of that and getting to beat them ultimately was a lot of fun and something I’ll remember forever.”

(Submitted photo/Ryder Ritchie)

Many of Ritchie’s Canadian teammates were regular opponents for Ritchie in the Western Hockey League this past season, including Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna, who had a hat-trick in the final.

“It was a lot of fun getting to meet the guys you play against, they’re definitely different off the ice than on the ice,” he said. “I got to play with (Tij) Iginla a lot, I played with him in Midget, so getting to play with him again.”

“And then McKenna, he’s like a brother to me. We lived together for a year, and we live with each other in the summer. Getting to play against each other in the WHL is a lot of fun, but playing together is even more fun.”

Now that the U18 tournament has wrapped up, Ritchie’s sights are now set on the NHL draft on June 28 and 29 in Las Vegas.

“It’s an exciting time for myself and the other 2024 draft prospects,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to it. Can’t really do much now about where I go and what happens, but just looking forward to it and whatever happens will happen.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com