Canadian right winger Brett Ritchie, 31, has been released from his contract with Slovak Extraliga club HK Nitra and has signed to play the remainder of the current season with the Schwenninger Wild Wings, the German DEL club announced on Wednesday.
Ritchie had 24 points in 28 games this season with Nitra but, according to club president Miroslav Kováčik, the former NHLer’s offensive creativity was stifled by the league’s poor officiating.
“Our expectations were higher,” said Kováčik. “Especially recently, his performance and enthusiasm did not match the conditions he had created with us. That is why, in cooperation with his agents, we found him a place to play in another league in Europe.
Nitra currently sits fourth in the 12-team Extraliga. Last season, the team finished eighth in the regular season before going on a playoff run and winning the league title.
“It’s not easy to make a name for yourself in our league, especially when players who have played in the best leagues in the world have to deal with our referees,” Kováčik continued. “Compared to better leagues, creative players who want to do something with the puck are absolutely not protected here. The slashing, holding, hooking and cross-checking infractions that are not called here have long been unthinkable in better leagues and on the international stage. When comparing hockey there and in our league, it looks like a different sport.”
Kováčik cited Anthony Camara, another Canadian who played for Nitra earlier this season but was given his release to pursue a job in the KHL, as another example of a skilled import player being chased out of the league in frustration.
“Unfortunately, not only do we (as a club) see this, but players with experience from other leagues have also expressed the same opinion,” said Kováčik.
Nitra’s loss is Schwenning’s gain.
“Of course, we have been closely monitoring the market after the recent injuries,” said Wild Wings GM Stefan Wagner. “With Brett, we have now been able to sign a player whose playing skills should be a good fit for us. We are therefore delighted that he has chosen us.”
Schwenning currently sits ninth in the 14-team DEL with 45 points in 33 games. The team’s roster includes fellow ex-Canadian NHLer Brandon McMillan, Italian national team captain Thomas Larkin and veteran Norwegian national team winger Ken André Olimb, who has been out of the lineup all season with an undisclosed injury.
Brett’s brother Nick Ritchie remains in the Slovak Extraliga with HC Nové Zámky, where he has 24 points in 18 games. The two have met head-to-head twice this season, each winning once, with Nick producing five points and Brett none in the two games. They each spoke to The Hockey News after the first meeting on Nov. 3.
“That was cool,” Nick said about playing against his brother. “It’s been a couple years, I think, but it’s always nice when you can do that.”
“I don’t necessarily love playing against him because you want him to do well, right?” said Brett. “You’re trying to win and you’re trying to help your team, but then you want to see him do well. It’s kind of a weird situation.”
The Ritchie brothers hail from Orangeville, Ont. Brett was a second-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 2011 and played 391 NHL regular-season games with the Stars, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes between 2014 and 2023, recording 85 points and 255 penalty minutes. He also played 10 playoff games, scoring two goals – both in 2022 with the Flames.
Last season, Ritchie played in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, but injuries limited him to just 12 games in the regular season and two in the playoffs. He recorded two goals and one assist.
Internationally, Ritchie represented Canada at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial, the 2011 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2013 World Junior Championship.