Byron Ritchie quickly jotted a note on his phone and texted his former Calgary Flames teammate, Jarome Iginla.
Ritchie was concerned because his son Ryder was struggling with scoring goals, so he asked Iginla to watch some of his son’s shifts and provide feedback. It was a typical exchange between two hockey dads who have a long history together. Ritchie and Iginla played on the Flames nearly 20 years ago and both live in the Okanagan region of British Columbia.
Following the birth of their sons in 2006, the two families became close. Now, both 17-year-old boys are top prospects heading into the NHL Draft weekend in Las Vegas. They are working through the pressures of draft eligibility at RINK Hockey Academy in Kelowna, where Iginla coaches the U18 team and Ritchie works as a skills development coach.
When Iginla watched Ryder’s shifts and noticed he was overthinking, he advised him to take a break from hockey and do something else to clear his mind. This patient approach to player development is a common theme for Iginla, who now lives in Boston with his family.
Fast forward to today, both boys are top prospects with Ryder expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick, and Tij projected as a top-10 selection. They both credit their dads for their understanding of the game and dedication to their development.
The Iginla-Ritchie partnership at RINK Hockey Academy has evolved beyond coaching their own kids. They now work with some of the most promising young players in North America, including potential first overall pick Gavin McKenna.
The upcoming draft represents the culmination of a dream for these families, but also the beginning of a new chapter in their hockey journeys. Both dads, Iginla and Ritchie, are proud of the hard work their sons have put in and look forward to seeing where their paths lead.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Jonathan Kozub, Dale Preston / Getty Images)