Long-time Dragon on the move

[DangerGolding 222]

Toronto Sports Network caught up with the Legion's newest free agent acquisition, Raleigh Ritchie, it may not exactly be a marque signing but the veteran wing brings a elite but admittedly limited skillset that the Legion are hoping will bolster the teams offensive prowess. 

 

So Ritchie, what was your initial reaction when you got the news that the Dragons were not planning on re-signing you?

Well it's no secret I was devastated by the news, DC were the team that took a chance on me when no other team would, it's not often than a team will display the kind of patience that the Dragons did with me. They never looked down on my slow development as a negative and the team as a whole was so encouraging. The GM called up me late on Friday night to tell me that they would not have the space to bring me back, and after the initial shock I did warm up to the idea of Free Agency for the first time in my major league career.

 

How did your first foray into free agency go?

It was surprising how quickly the offers came in really, no sooner had I announced my availability to the league that I had messages from a few different GMs around the league. I first went into it with the intention of joining a playoff caliber team that could use a backup forward but ultimately it turned out that those teams either didn't want me or didn't have the cap space. So then it was a case of looking at my remaining options and seeing which team had the best fit for me.

 

What were you looking for in a new team?

The biggest goal was to get a team that can make a decent push for the playoffs and the Legion seemed on paper to have the strongest roster. They've got a really great centre in Chad Magnum and also in goal Jaxx Hextall is looking like he'll be one of the league premier goaltenders sooner rather than later. The next biggest factor is ice time and that's something that I'm hoping to get a good amount of with Toronto. I'll have to do my best to keep up with the young guns Merrick and Gainer though.

 

To cap off this interview how would you describe your time in DC in 3 words and also you're view of the Legion's upcoming season?

Well I only need two words for the first bit.

DRAFONS GOREVER

and the second part I guess I'll go with

UNDERDOGS BARKING UP

 

[STZ 5,360]

Good Luck in TO!