Oshawa Generals’ Ritchie in starring role at Capital City Challenge U-17 tournament

To the surprise of no one in Oshawa, rookie phenom Calum Ritchie is turning heads in Ottawa this week at the Capital City Challenge.

With the World U-17 tournament cancelled this year because of the ongoing pandemic, Canada’s future stars are making the best of it at the Capital City Challenge, which features three squads of the best pre-draft eligible hockey players in the country – and Canada’s National Women’s Team – in a round-robin tournament.

Ritchie’s team – Canada Black – scorched the opposition 21-8 in winning all three preliminary games and will play the Women’s National Team in the semi-final tonight. Canada Black won the preliminary game 4-1.

Canada Black won the opener 7-2 over Canada Red and doubled up Canada White 10-5 in their final prelim game. Ritchie, a product of the Oakville Rangers system, scored a goal and added an assist against Red and exploded for five points – a hattrick and a pair of assists – against White. (Ritchie’s linemate – Zach Benson of the Winnipeg Ice – did even better in the game with three goals and a whopping seven points.)

The final is Wednesday night, with all games at TD Place Arena, the home of the Ottawa 67s.