If hockey doesn’t work out, Vancouver Canucks prospect Riley Patterson may have a promising future in baseball.
During the Barrie Colts’ commanding win over the Owen Sound Attack, Patterson showcased his hand-eye coordination by batting the puck out of midair to notch his 12th goal of the season, doubling the Colts’ lead.
The Etobicoke, Ontario native wasn’t done there. He added two assists in the match, earning his second three-point performance of the 2024-25 campaign and his first since the season’s opening week.
The Colts cruised to a 4-0 victory, with Patterson playing a role in three of the team’s goals. Jumping around the team’s lineup, Patterson continues to be a key producer for Barrie this season, where he now sits third on the team in both goals (12) and points (25), with a plus-nine rating and 68 shots on goal.
Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Patterson entered his draft-plus-one season with high expectations following a stellar rookie campaign in the OHL.
Last season, Patterson put the league on notice, leading all rookies with 29 goals and finishing second in rookie scoring with 62 points in 68 games. Production has taken a slight dip, with 12 goals and 25 points in 29 games this year, but he’s still pacing for another strong campaign.
The Barrie Colts currently sit fourth leaguewide, sporting a 21-8-1-1 record for 44 points. Despite a middling 113 goals scored, much of the team’s success can be attributed to some terrific defensive metrics, with the league’s fewest goals against (84).
Patterson and his Colts will play one last game on Thursday, December 19th, before a 10-day Christmas break. They will then return on the road to North Bay to take on Anthony Romani’s (injured) Battalion on December 28th.