Brett Ritchie

In 2009–10 Ritchie scored 13 goals and 16 assists in 65 games for the Sarnia Sting during his first season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During his second season he missed approximately a month of the season due to mononucleosis, but despite playing just 49 games, his scoring improved to 21 goals and 20 assists during the 2010–11 season. Unfortunately, due to his illness during the mid-season, Ritchie missed his opportunity to play in the 2011 CHL Top Prospects Game.[2]

On January 5, 2012 Ritchie was traded to the Niagara Icedogs for Guelph's 2012 2nd round pick, Peterborough's 2014 2nd round pick, and Niagara's own 2013 2nd and 5th round picks – all of which Sarnia immediately traded to Mississauga to acquire goalie JP Anderson.[3][4]

On July 11, 2012, Ritchie signed a three-year entry-level contract with Dallas Stars. Ritchie began his professional career April 5, 2013 with the Texas Stars against the Oklahoma City Barons, where he scored his first professional goal. Ritchie achieved a hat trick after scoring his third goal of the night on an empty net in the Texas Star's game against the Charlotte Checkers on December 27, 2014.[5]

After seven seasons within the Stars organization, on June 25, 2019, Ritchie was not tendered a qualifying offer enabling him to become a free agent on July 1.[6] Marking his 26th birthday on the opening day of free agency, Ritchie was signed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Boston Bruins.[7]

In Ritchie's first game with the Bruins, he scored the first goal of the 2019–20 season against his former team, the Dallas Stars.[8]

As a free agent from the Bruins, Ritchie was left un-signed entering training camp to the delayed 2020–21 season. On January 9, 2021, Ritchie was invited to join the Calgary Flames training camp on a professional tryout basis.[9] Remaining with the club through the start of the season, Ritchie was later signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on January 17, 2021.[10]