A Port Moody goaltender is heading to the Big Apple.
Callum Tung, who just wrapped up his first season at the University of Connecticut after two years with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the BC Hockey League, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers on April 1.
The 21-year-old will join the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on an amateur tryout for the rest of the season.
According to Puckpedia, which tracks NHL contracts, Tung’s deal is valued at $2.62 million, including annual signing bonuses of $97,500 and performance bonuses of $102,500. However, if he remains in the minors, his salary will be $85,000 per year.
Tung’s decision to go pro came just two days after his UConn Huskies were eliminated from the NCAA tournament in a 3-2 overtime loss to Penn State in the regional final on March 30.
The Huskies were making their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Tung faced 38 shots in the game, including six in overtime before Penn State’s Matt DiMarsico netted the game-winner at 17:56.
During his freshman season at UConn, Tung allowed just 29 goals across 14 games, finishing with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage—ranking sixth among all NCAA goaltenders and second in the Hockey East conference. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie team.
Before joining UConn, Tung played 43 games over two seasons with Alberni Valley, recording a 2.87 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
He also got an early taste of professional hockey last summer when he attended the Calgary Flames’ development camp for two weeks. This fueled speculation that Calgary might offer him his first contract. However, according to hockey insider Elliotte Friedman, the Flames are already deep at the goaltending position, including Tung’s opponent in UConn’s loss to Penn State, Arsenii Sergeev, who was drafted by Calgary in 2021.
