PACK MENTALITY: CALLUM TUNG
Jul 9, 2026HARTFORD, CT – Callum Tung’s rookie season featured the expected ups-and-downs that young players face when going from the collegiate level to the pros. Split between Hartford and the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison, Tung went from learning in the classroom to learning on the ice.
The 2025-26 season was ‘Pro Hockey 101’ for the former Univ. of Connecticut Husky.
It’s a year that was filled with milestones and with lessons. It was a year that Tung is hoping to use a springboard into his second professional season this fall.
“I learned a lot this past season,” he said when asked to reflect on his rookie campaign. “Going into my first year as a pro, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. One of the biggest things I learned was how important the little things are in day-to-day life.
“Taking care of my body and mind is the result of small habits that compound over time when done consistently. I also learned that professional hockey is a marathon, not a sprint, and that the keys to a long, successful career are consistency, perseverance, and determination.”
The marathon for Tung began in September, when he attended his first pro training camp. It ended in April with an extremely valuable experience. Following the Wolf Pack’s season, Tung joined the Bison for the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Playoffs. There, he found himself in the high pressure situation of postseason hockey.
It’s something he looks back at fondly as his summer training continues.
“It was a great experience being able to play in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with Bloomington,” he said. “The atmosphere and energy in playoff games, as you know, are unlike anything else. I love playing in high-leverage situations. When the stakes are high, the game becomes even more fun. I enjoy pressure, and it usually fuels me, so having the opportunity to play in those games was huge.”
It wasn’t the only experience Tung had at the end of the season that is fueling him this summer. With Dylan Garand recalled to the NHL’s New York Rangers in March, Tung spent the last month of the regular season exclusively with the Wolf Pack.
It gave him a longer-term look at life in the AHL both on and off the ice. It allowed him to practice and travel with the club for a longer period of time while also getting experience in key games down the stretch.
“Playing in those games at the end of the season was very valuable for me,” Tung added. “Competing in meaningful games where the stakes were higher and every point mattered helped build my experience in high-pressure situations. Unfortunately, we didn’t accomplish our goal of making the Calder Cup Playoffs, but battling with the group right up until the final game was a great experience.”
Between his run with the Wolf Pack late in the season and his playoff experience with the Bison, Tung entered the off-season armed with experiences to both fuel him and learn from.
It’s allowed him to enter this off-season with a clear idea of what he needs to do to accomplish his goal.
What is his goal, you might ask?
“Obviously, my ultimate goal is to make the NHL,” Tung said. “Getting my NHL debut would be a dream come true. In my first year, it was great to get a lot of pro games in both the ECHL and AHL. Heading into next season, I know that if I put in the necessary work this off-season and carry that into the year, I can achieve my goals.”
Tung will have the opportunity to put that work on display in training camp this fall, looking to take another step forward in his second professional season.
‘Pro hockey 101’ has been dismissed. It’s time for the next course for this young netminder.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at PeoplesBank Arena. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Will Cuylle, and Matt Rempe. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.