Prospect Spotlight: Ryder Ritchie

This week’s Minnesota Wild prospect spotlight focuses on 2024 second-round pick, Ryder Ritchie. In his third Western Hockey League (WHL) season, and first with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Ritchie has a set a new career-high with 24 goals this season and is on pace to surpass his career-high 55 points (20-35=55), set back in the 2022-23 season with the Prince Albert Raiders. In his 45 games this year, the 18-year old native of Calgary, Alberta, ranks fourth on Medicine Hat with 51 points (24-27=51) and 24 goals and his 27 assists ranks fifth on the team. With a goal on February 22, Ritchie recorded the 150th point (63-87=150) of his WHL career in just 153 games.

“Ryder has really good instincts offensively with the puck,” said Brad Bombardir, Director of Player Development for the Minnesota Wild. “He has a quick brain for recognizing passing and shooting lanes. As he continues to improve his pace and power, that should allow him to create some separation coming up the ice, along with creating space for himself below the dots in the offensive zone.”

Prior to being held off the score sheet on February 23 against the Edmonton Oil Kings, Ritchie notched a point (6-10=16) in a season-high 10 consecutive games from January 31 to February 22, including a season-high four-point (1-3=4) outing on February 17 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. This marked the third time this season Ritchie has collected a point in at least seven consecutive games, previously doing so November 15-30 and January 4-24. Ritchie has helped lead the Tigers to a 39-17-3 record this season, tops in the Central Division and clinching a spot in the WHL Playoffs. Medicine Hat’s 82 points ranks second in the WHL, trailing the Everett Silvertips, who own 87 points and a 40-11-4 record.

Read more about Ryder Ritchie, the Iowa Wild and other future Minnesota Wild prospects here.