Alex Ritson was born March 7, 1922 in Peace River, Alberta. A member of the Regina Generals of the Southern Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Ritson joined the American Hockey Association's Tulsa Oilers in 1941-42 before making the jump to the American Hockey League the following year.
In 1942-43, Alex Ritson split his season with the AHL's Washington Lions and Providence Reds before becoming a member of the Indianapolis Capitals (AHL) for the 1943-44 season. Ritson's steady play in Indianapolis impressed the New York Rangers, as they claimed him in the Inter-Ligue Draft.
Ritson spent the majority of 1944-45 season with the AHL's Hershey Bears, recalled by the Rangers midway through the season, where he played in his only career NHL game. The 1945-46 season saw Alex Ritson suit up for four teams, re-joining the Hershey Bears before heading to the New Haven Eagles (AHL) followed by the Omaha Knights of the United States Hockey League and finishing with the Fort Worth Rangers (USHL).
Ritson returned to Fort Worth for the next two seasons before he was traded to the Tulsa Oilers (USHL) prior to the 1948-49 season. After only one season in Tulsa, Ritson was dealt to Buffalo of the American Hockey League, but never suited up for the team joining the Cincinnati Mohawks (AHL) instead. Ritson stay in Cincinnati was brief as he landed in Louisville (USHL) before finishing the season with the Seattle Ironmen of the Pacific Coast Hockey League.
The 1950-51 season saw Ritson return to Seattle where after only three games with the Ironmen he was off to the Vernon Canadiens of the Okanogan Senior Hockey League, the team which he would finish his career with following the 1951-52 season.