UConn men's hockey lands big forward, future goaltender

UConn men’s hockey picked up a pair of commitments recently: Goaltender Callum Tung and forward Ethan Whitcomb.

Whitcomb has already signed his national letter of intent to the Huskies and will join the team as a freshman next fall. As for Tung, his arrival depends on what happens with UConn’s current goaltenders. Both Ethan Haider and Arsenii Sergeev are eligible to return next year so if they both stay in Storrs, Tung may stay in juniors for an additional season.

A 6-foot-4, 2019 pound forward out of St. Catharines, Ontario, Whitcomb is a former Nebraska-Omaha commit who chose the Huskies over Michigan. Last season, he had 24 goals and 26 assists with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks — where he was teammates with current UConn freshman Jake Richard. This year, he has four goals and 12 assists in 16 games with the Lumberjacks.

From Elite Prospect’s 2023 NHL Draft Guide:

“[Whitcomb] fluidly dekes through opponents upon receiving passes, and even manipulates their feet first. Inside-driven, he drives the net, but knows when to cut back or pass for a better look. He has the vision to spot teammates through layers and the creativity connect. And he’s always looking to win body positioning on opponent.”

Whitcomb also uses his big frame to screen the goalie and score greasy goals around the net — especially on the power play.

Meanwhile, Tung is listed at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds out of Port Moody, British Columbia — the same hometown as current UConn sophomore Ryan Tattle. He has a 2.27 goals against average and .930 save percentage in 12 games with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

“Callum has the ability to keep calm and make things look easy,” Alberni Valley head coach and general manager Joe Martin told the team’s website. “He’s extremely athletic and can make saves that a lot of goalies can’t.”

In 2021-22, Tung played for the Port Alberni Bombers and stopped 79 of 81 shots during an overtime loss in game seven of the opening round of the league’s playoffs. He moved up to the BCHL last season but missed most of the year with an injury and only saw action in five regular season contests and one playoff game.

Whether Tung joins UConn next fall or the year after, he’ll be at least 21 years old — though it’s not atypical for goaltenders to be older. For reference, Darion Hanson was 20 at the start of his collegiate career.