Brendan Ritchie Signs With Wallaceburg Lakers
Brendan Ritchie (#9) controls the puck with two Mooretown defenders giving chase in the Wallaceburg Lakers opening exhibition game – Photo by Jocelyn McLaughlin/ CKSN.ca
Ritchie, a Chatham resident, spent last season with the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team.
“Brendan is a hard working kid,” said Wallaceburg coach Ken Shine about signing Ritchie. “He’s a player we expect to be with us for some time, and he’ll get better as the season goes on, and each year.”
In the Wallaceburg Lakers preseason opener, Ritchie hit the scoresheet, scoring a goal for the Lakers in their 6-2 loss to the Mooretown Flags.
Playing 42 regular season and playoff games with the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs last season, Ritchie scored 6 goals and 17 assists. In 2012-2013, Ritchie played for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team.
Ritchie’s older brother Jay Ritchie, recently signed with the Lambeth Lancers after two seasons of Junior B hockey with the Chatham Maroons and Lambton Shores Predators. Their father, Jim Ritchie, played pro hockey from 1990 until 1997, including two seasons with the Chatham Wheels of the Colonial League.
The Wallaceburg Lakers open their 2014-2015 Great Lakes regular season Wednesday, September 10 against the Amherstburg Admirals.