Port Moody’s Callum Tung spent two seasons with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs before moving on to the University of Connecticut, where he recently wrapped up his freshman year.
Now, the young goaltender is getting his shot in the Big Apple.
Tung, 21, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers, officially turning pro on Tuesday, April 1. After completing his first college season at UConn, he will now join the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the season.
According to Puckpedia, Tung’s contract is valued at $2.62 million, which includes annual signing bonuses of $97,500 and performance bonuses of $102,500. However, if he remains in the minor leagues, his yearly salary will be $85,000.
His decision to sign with the Rangers came just two days after his UConn Huskies were eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the regional final, falling 3-2 in overtime to Penn State on March 30. Tung made 38 saves in the game, including six in nearly 18 minutes of overtime, before being beaten by Matt DiMarsico. The tournament marked UConn’s first-ever NCAA appearance.
During his freshman season, Tung impressed with a 2.01 goals against average and a .931 save percentage over 14 games, ranking sixth among all NCAA goalies and second in the Hockey East conference. His strong play earned him a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie Team.
Before his time at UConn, Tung played 43 games over two seasons in Alberni Valley, where he posted a 2.87 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Last summer, he also attended the Calgary Flames development camp, leading to speculation that he might sign with them. However, as hockey insider Elliotte Friedman noted, Calgary is already deep at the goaltending position, including Arsenii Sergeev—Tung’s opposing netminder in the Huskies’ loss to Penn State—who was drafted by the Flames in 2021.