Breakers’ Ritchie excited for big stage hit-out

The Ric Charlesworth Classic will get underway this weekend at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University from Saturday 26 March, where some of WA and Australia’s best hockey stars will take to the pitch.

There will be young and old, new faces and familiar faces, but more importantly a chance for people to get a glimpse into this year’s Premier League.

Jaeda Ritchie is one of many young guns that’ll display their talent across the week-long tournament.

While she’s one of the most promising juniors coming through WA’s ranks – she is also pretty handy at another skill.

Reds’ brightest up-and-comer is also a talented cricket player.

Ritchie plays for Bateman in the under-18s competition, Melville District in the under-17s, and in 2020 she was selected to travel to Canberra with the State under-15s side.  

“In ways having both sports complement each other in the way that I can keep my fitness up during the off season,” she says.

“However, toward the back end of my cricket season, hockey starts back up, leaving me with a lot going on and having to manage my workload and pick between which sport I’ll go to when trainings clash.

“I am lucky to have flexible and understanding coaches across both sports that allow me to make both things work.”

Clearly, the balancing act is working.

Ritchie made her first state hockey team in 2017 and has made many since.

This year she will head away with the under-18s gold team.

But she doesn’t do it for the glory.

Her main goal is to have fun, and to love the game she’s playing.

“My number one goal with hockey is to just be the best player I can be,” she says.

“I just want to enjoy the game without putting too much pressure and expectation on myself to fall out of love with it.”

It’s undeniable Ritchie is a hockey talent Reds are lucky to have, the rising star part of a back-to-back premiership side over the past two years.

Not just a player in either, a key part of the team’s success… and their journey to being promoted into the Premier League.

“My favourite hockey memory would have to be 2020 and 2021 Grand Final victory for Reds in Premier Division 2.

“Both games were very close and to come out on top both times was very rewarding for the team and such a great feeling!”

Ritchie first started playing hockey because of her older sister Morgan.

She then started playing minkey at five years old and hasn’t missed a season since.

She isn’t slowing down any time soon either.  

“I love sport as I love to be a part of a team and make long lasting friendships,” Ritchie said.

“I also love the challenges that come with it, whether it’s the fitness component or working on that specific skill to become better.

“I of course also love it for that winning feeling!”

Ritchie says she loves nothing more than playing her favourite game in the great state.   

“I think what makes hockey in WA so great is that the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are based here,” Ritchie said.

“It’s a great opportunity to play with and against them and learn so much off of them even by just watching them play or train.”

She’s most looking forward to the Ric Charlesworth Classic and the development opportunities it’ll give her.

“I am very excited to be selected to play the Ric Charlesworth Classic,” she says.

“It was a great feeling to be acknowledged as one of the many players to be picked and is showing that my hard work is starting to pay off, giving me a sense of accomplishment.

“I am looking forward to getting to play amongst a lot of girls who have a lot of experience with the game and getting to learn off them.

“It will be a great experience for me to develop as a player and get some high-quality game play to prepare me before I go away for the under-18s tournament.”