Taste of NHL left goalie Rittich hungry for more
With no disrespect to the Great Wall of China or the O.R.G. China Games, David Rittich was perfectly happy to be in Calgary this weekend.
The 26-year-old netminder is vying for the backup job with the Calgary Flames this season, a job he proved he was capable of for most of the 2017-18 campaign.
He didn’t earn the gig right off the hop, mind you. Last fall, he was dispatched to the AHL’s Stockton Heat to start the season before being recalled in late November amid the Eddie Lack implosion and in following an injury to starter Mike Smith.
A likable guy in the dressing room and a suitable No. 2, Rittich remained with the club until the end of March. He played 21 games and started 16, posting an 8-6-3 record with a 2.92 goalsagainst average and .904 save percentage.
“I can take everything (from last year),” Rittich said. “I’ve been in two positions, regular backup behind Smitty and the goalie No. 1 when Smitty was hurt. I have to learn from last year. Actually, I don’t want to look back and I want to look forward to this season and be the best prepared I can.”
This year, it’s a fresh slate and Rittich intends to be with the Flames from the get-go.
To do that, he realizes it’s more important to play games than sightsee or watch Smith from the bench in China.
“That’s probably exactly what I want,” said Rittich, who is likely to start against the Edmonton Oilers in the Flames’ first preseason tune-up on North American soil.
“There are four games here (while the team is away in China) and I’m not really sure how many I’m going to play. In China, there are just two games so it should be better for me to just stay and play more games and be in the game and be sharp and be ready for the season.”
The Flames technically opened their main training camp on Thursday with medicals and hit the ice on Friday through the weekend.
After Monday’s game, it’s Wednesday at Vancouver, Friday at Winnipeg, and Saturday back at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Vancouver Canucks. Rittich is likely to get into a big chunk of action during that span, competing with Flames prospects Tyler Parsons and Mason McDonald and professional tryout netminder Jeff Glass.
Of the four goalies in Calgary, Rittich, who re-signed with the Flames this summer for another year, has the inside track.
“Everyone wants to play in the NHL. There are 100 goalies who want to be a backup, too,” said Rittich, a native of Jihalava, Czech Republic.
“I just want to take this place and I want to stay in Calgary with Smitty. If I play some games, I want to win. For me, it’s way better to stay (during training camp) and play games here and to be ready when the guys come back.”
The competition in Monday’s game will be a heckuva lot different than Oct. 3 when the Flames open the regular season in Vancouver.
With 10 professional tryout players trying to earn jobs and a pile of rookies that are likely destined for the American Hockey League this season, the pace can be disjointed.
Not that it matters to Rittich. He knows the Flames’ eyes will be on him, evaluating how he performs.
“It’s way different than when the veterans are here,” Rittich said.
“But it’s fun. The young guys have a lot of energy in the lockerroom and on the ice. So, it’s good. Practices are different. The fun in the locker-room is a little different. But I’m good with it.
“I think it’ll be a good game (Monday). I don’t really care who is shooting on me. I just want to make the team. That’s the point, why I’m here.”