Oshawa Generals star Ritchie named to U18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup team

Oshawa Generals soon-to-be star sophomore Calum Ritchie has earned his way onto Hockey Canada’s 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster.

The 17 year-old Oakville native won his spot after an impressive performance at the just concluded 2022 U18 camp, where Ritchie, who had 45 points in 65 games in his rookie campaign for the Generals, collected two assists in two games for Team Red.

Ritchie was the second overall selection by Oshawa in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament, which will run from July 31st-August 6th in Red Deer, Alberta, will be his second time wearing the Maple Leaf after Ritchie scored the OT winner as his Team Black won the U17 Capital City Challenge last year in Ottawa.

Ritchie, who is already being touted as a top prospect for the 2023 NHL draft, finished the tournament with 11 points in five games.

This will be Team Canada’s first Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament since taking home the silver medal in 2019. The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Team Canada did not participate in the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup due to uncertainty around the pandemic and travel.

Other OHL players to make the cut for Team Canada include D Oliver Bonk and F Denver Buckley of London, F Carson Rehkopf of Kitchener, F Colby Barlow of Owen Sound and D Cameron Allen of Guelph.