Ritcey, who has served as the MHL's vice-president since 2009, has been named interim president of the league after incumbent Derryl Smith stepped aside.
Smith, in the middle of his seventh season, is battling health issues and decided not to continue with his duties.
“It’s a great opportunity to take on a new role and add another title to my portfolio,” Ritcey, a Truro native, said. “I’m glad to step into the job.”
Ritcey accepted the position after conversations with Stu Rath and Graham Baxter, the league co-chairmen. While he’ll have his hands full with taking over the full time day-to-day duties, Ritcey said he’d have to take time to decide if he wants the role after this season.
“That’s a conversation I’ll have to have with Mr. Rath and Mr. Baxter,” he said. “Right now it’s strictly on an interim basis.”
Ritcey is no stranger to the league, having played as a teenager and later coaching for the Moncton Beavers and Amherst Ramblers. He was also an assistant with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2000-2001 and was at the helm of Team Atlantic at the 2005 and 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a bronze in '05. Ritcey was a guest coach for the under-18 national team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in 2012, winning gold, His father, Jed Ritcey, was a long-time junior A executive and coach.
The new job does come with some sadness, however, as he watches Smith step aside for his health.
“I feel like I’ve lost a best friend,” Ritcey said of their work relationship ending. “We talked on the phone pretty well everyday, whether it was about our families, our jobs or just junior hockey.”
During Smith’s tenure at the helm, the Kinkora, P.E.I., native oversaw the re-branding of the league from the MJAHL to the MHL and helped it grow to 12 teams.
Ritcey said he’ll always remember the work they did to make the league a more attractive place for young players to play.
“The branding of the league has come so far, not just from a marketing standpoint, but for young kids wanting to come play here,” he said. “The Maritime league used to be a scary thing, but now you look around the league…and you see a lot of kids playing junior who could still be playing midget.”
Ritcey’s day-to-day role as president will start immediately and run until May. He’ll handle the business side of the league, as well as dealing with suspensions, including a lingering indefinite suspension to Summerside Western Capitals coach Billy McGuigan. Ritcey will take what he’s learned around the league, and from Smith, and continue with it.
“(Derryl and I) are very close, as work colleagues and friends. He’s given me his utmost blessing and I’ve got a great support staff as well.”
Ritcey, who has served as the MHL's vice-president since 2009, has been named interim president of the league after incumbent Derryl Smith stepped aside.
Smith, in the middle of his seventh season, is battling health issues and decided not to continue with his duties.
“It’s a great opportunity to take on a new role and add another title to my portfolio,” Ritcey, a Truro native, said. “I’m glad to step into the job.”
Ritcey accepted the position after conversations with Stu Rath and Graham Baxter, the league co-chairmen. While he’ll have his hands full with taking over the full time day-to-day duties, Ritcey said he’d have to take time to decide if he wants the role after this season.
“That’s a conversation I’ll have to have with Mr. Rath and Mr. Baxter,” he said. “Right now it’s strictly on an interim basis.”
Ritcey is no stranger to the league, having played as a teenager and later coaching for the Moncton Beavers and Amherst Ramblers. He was also an assistant with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2000-2001 and was at the helm of Team Atlantic at the 2005 and 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a bronze in '05. Ritcey was a guest coach for the under-18 national team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in 2012, winning gold, His father, Jed Ritcey, was a long-time junior A executive and coach.
The new job does come with some sadness, however, as he watches Smith step aside for his health.
“I feel like I’ve lost a best friend,” Ritcey said of their work relationship ending. “We talked on the phone pretty well everyday, whether it was about our families, our jobs or just junior hockey.”
During Smith’s tenure at the helm, the Kinkora, P.E.I., native oversaw the re-branding of the league from the MJAHL to the MHL and helped it grow to 12 teams.
Ritcey said he’ll always remember the work they did to make the league a more attractive place for young players to play.
“The branding of the league has come so far, not just from a marketing standpoint, but for young kids wanting to come play here,” he said. “The Maritime league used to be a scary thing, but now you look around the league…and you see a lot of kids playing junior who could still be playing midget.”
Ritcey’s day-to-day role as president will start immediately and run until May. He’ll handle the business side of the league, as well as dealing with suspensions, including a lingering indefinite suspension to Summerside Western Capitals coach Billy McGuigan. Ritcey will take what he’s learned around the league, and from Smith, and continue with it.
“(Derryl and I) are very close, as work colleagues and friends. He’s given me his utmost blessing and I’ve got a great support staff as well.”
