Ryder Ritchie returns to Prince Albert on Wednesday to take on a Raiders team he spent two season with before he joined the Tigers. Medicine Hat Tigers/Facebook

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Medicine Hat Tigers in Prince Albert taking on a familiar Raider

Nov 20, 2024 | 7:13 PM

The Medicine Hat Tigers are back in action Wednesday night in Prince Albert to face former teammate Tomas Mrsic and the Raiders.

Mrsic took WHL player of the week honour for last week with five goals and two assists in two games.

This will also be the return to Prince Albert for current Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie who came back in the deal that shipped Mrsic to the Raiders.

Ritchie looks forward to playing against the team he started his WHL career with.

“I’m obviously really excited to go back to PA and play,” Ritchie said.

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“I mean, it’s been two years there and I’ve got a lot of buddies on the team and my old billet family so I get to see them after the game,” he added.

“But I’m definitely going in there with a chip on my shoulder and it’s a business trip for me for sure.”

Ritchie had made his return to the Tigers lineup on Friday night and got his first goal as a Tiger.

“We kind of had a slow start as a team and I had one as an individual as well but it was definitely nice to get that first one,” Ritchie said.

Gavin McKenna billets in the same home as Ritchie, as they did playing Prep hockey together in Rink Kelowna.

He expects Ritchie will continue to find the back of the net.

“It’s good for him to get that monkey off his back,” McKenna said.

“He’s a really good players so I am sure he’s got many to come.”

Ritchie said even though he’s constantly around McKenna even in the summer they don’t get tired of each other.

“We’re best friends and it’s awesome to have a guy like that,” Ritchie said.

“I’ve known him forever and it’s awesome having him here and getting to play with him, it’s a lot of fun. He’s such a good player.”

Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt is looking forward to seeing his former teammate in Mrsic, and playing in a city he’s quite familiar with.

“Yeah, definitely. Personally, I love playing in Prince Albert. My brother played there, so I love watching him play there,” Wiesblatt said.

“Obviously, Mirs’ a great player and a great person as well.”

Ritchie said his former dad Byron, a former NHL player has been a huge influence on his hockey career.

“Getting to kind of grow up around the game and having him as my number one supporter and he’s done so much for me, especially since he’s retired,” Ritchie said.

“His job since he retired, just helping me out, developing me. He coached us at RINK, coached me in Pee Wee, and he’s been around the game,” he added.

“He’s been through it all, like the draft, been to the combines, so just having him, I can call him, text him at any time, it’s such a huge resource for me.”

Even though Ritchie will be happy to see his former teammates, he’s enjoying be a Tiger.

“Yeah, I think all of it. I mean, I love the guys,” Ritchie said.

“I think we have a great group, a really tight group of guys, so it’s been a lot of fun.”

Game time is at 6 pm mst.

Will Bryant will have the radio broadcast on Wild 94-5 starting at 5:45 pm.

The Tigers will look to get back in the win column after droping the first game of their road trip on Tuesday to the Saskatoon 5-3, with the Blades getting an empty netter.