Riley Patterson, a center prospect for the Vancouver Canucks, has requested a trade from the Barrie Colts and will not attend the team's training camp this week. According to Colts general manager Marty Williamson, Patterson is looking for a fresh start. "He wants a fresh start. I still really like Riley," Williamson said.

Patterson, 19, hails from Burlington, Ontario, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 192 pounds, he is a right-handed shooter who has not yet signed an entry-level contract. This allows him the option to pursue a collegiate career, as he had previously committed to Michigan State before joining Barrie for the 2023-24 season.

In his first season with the Colts, Patterson scored 29 goals and recorded 62 points in 68 regular-season games. Last season, he tallied 25 goals and 59 points in 64 games, finishing second in team scoring. His scoring often came in bursts, including a notable 10-game stretch in January and February where he accumulated 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists).

During Patterson's time with Barrie, the team experienced a significant turnaround. They finished eighth in the OHL's Eastern Conference in his first season with a record of 28-36-4-0. However, they improved to second place in the East last season, posting a record of 42-22-2-2. The Colts made several moves to strengthen their roster for a playoff run, including acquiring fellow Canucks prospect Anthony Romani, who is 20 years old.

Despite their efforts, Barrie was swept by the Oshawa Generals in the Eastern Conference final. Romani excelled in the playoffs, scoring 12 goals and accumulating 24 points in 16 games, while Patterson contributed six goals and 12 points.

Romani has since decided to forgo his final season of junior eligibility to attend Michigan State, following his selection by Vancouver in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.

In a previous interview, Patterson spoke about the importance of mental strength in his development as a player. He credited his mother, a former athlete with a background in sports psychology, for instilling confidence in him. "You need that mental strength. It’s the inner belief that you can make it. I have that self-confidence and belief that I’m putting the right work in every day to achieve that goal," he said.

Patterson has expressed a desire to model his game after Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi.