In late September, Brett Ritchie signed with HK Nitra [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/brett-ritchie-signs-in-slovakia] of the Slovak Extraliga. Then in late October, younger brother Nick Ritchie signed with rival club HC Nové Zámky [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/nick-ritchie-signs-in-slovakia]. Two weeks later, in just Nick’s second game of the season, they went head-to-head against each other. “That was cool,” said Nick. “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.” To that end, it was a good night for Brett, who saw his brother record a goal and an assist, but his Nitra team won 5-2. Nick Ritchie Nick now has three points in two games – both losses for Nové Zámky, who sit last in the league with just three wins in 17 games. “We’re having problems keeping the puck out of our net but we’ll work on it,” is Nick’s early assessment of his team. Brett Ritchie Brett was held pointless in the game but he has 11 points in 13 games for Nitra, who move up to third place with the win. The two brothers have played against each other before in the NHL and in the AHL, but they’ve never played on the same team before. They were briefly on the Boston Bruins at the same time in 2020 but Brett was injured and they never got into the lineup in the same game. In early 2023, they were traded for each other in a deal involving the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes. Will they ever play together? “It’ll happen one day, I think,” said Brett. “Maybe over here in Europe before we finish.” [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NWRUAs7yKo[/embed]
