Colorado Avalanche’s Calum Ritchie Scores First Career NHL Goal – Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche

It wasn’t Macklin Celebrini’s turn in his first career game, but Colorado Avalanche rookie Calum Ritchie achieved the same feat – scoring his first NHL goal – in just his third career game.

FIRST NHL GOAL ALERT 🚨

Congratulations, Calum Ritchie! pic.twitter.com/pEJdERfF4D

— NHL (@NHL) October 15, 2024

Drafted in 2023 by the Avalanche, 27th overall, Ritchie played another season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals following his draft year, tallying 28 goals and 80 points in just 50 games. He broke the Avalanche’s roster in camp this season and while he went four games in the first two games without a point, his third appearance led to the high point every player hopes to celebrate.

His first career NHL goal came early and happened quickly. The 19-year-old picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone following a Scott Mayfield layup. After playing the puck up the ice, he went to the net before receiving a pass from Josh Manson.

Although it was a historic goal for the young forward, it fell short as the Avalanche lost 6-2 on Monday night against the New York Islanders.

With the goal, Ritchie became the sixth rookie to score this season and the fifth to record his first NHL goal – joining Seamus Casey, Emil Heineman, Celebrini and Maxim Tsyplakov.

Ritchie is also the 6,032nd player in NHL history to score a goal.