Oshawa General rookie Calum Ritchie to play for Canada at Capital City Challenge

Oshawa Generals rookie star Calum Ritchie will get a chance to don Canada’s colours earlier than expected after the 16 year-old was invited to play in the Capital City Challenge later this month.

The new tournament, taking place in Ottawa from November 26 to December 1, will serve as a one-time event to replace the cancelled World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The tournament was set to be hosted in Charlottetown, PEI., but was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Three teams, Canada White, Canada Red, and Canada Black, made up of 2005-born men’s players and Canada’s National Women’s Team will compete in a preliminary round followed by semi-finals and medal games.

The purpose of the tournament is to provide the 2005 born players with an opportunity to take the ice under Team Canada for the first time. In addition, it provides the National Women’s Team further opportunity to tune up for the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Ritchie joins the tournament fresh off being named OHL Rookie of the Month for October, after scoring seven goals and adding five assists for 12 points in 10 games.

Ritchie, a product of the Oakville Rangers organization, was selected second overall at the 2021 OHL Priority selection.

Full-event ticket packages for the Capital City Challenge can be purchased for $80 (plus applicable fees), while single-game tickets are available starting as low as $5. Tickets will go on sale on today at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.