Giants’ Ronning eyeing the Rangers
AMBITION: Right-winger hopes to attract New York’s attention at upcoming Traverse City Tournament
In Ty Ronning’s perfect world, he would be a former Vancouver Giant this fall. The right-winger contends he’ll gladly return to the Langley Events Centre for a fifth campaign with the Western Hockey League Giants, but he’s hoping most of all to spend his upcoming over-age junior season playing in the New York Rangers’ farm system.
A 2016 seventh-round pick of the Rangers, Ronning will be part of the New York prospect group that’s taking part in the Traverse City Tournament starting Friday in the northern Michigan city.
Size and strength have always been a knock on Ronning, but he put up on 12 pounds over the summer, and is now carrying 173 pounds on his 5-9 frame.
As well, the son of longtime Vancouver Canucks fan favourite Cliff Ronning had a hat trick, including the winner, in the Giants’ 5-4 overtime victory against the Tri-City Americans on Sunday as part of the pre-season tournament in Everett, Wash.
And, by various accounts, Ronning had a strong showing in a 12-game stint with the Rangers’ AHL Hartford Wolf Pack affiliate last season after the Giants’ campaign ended.
Going against him sticking in pro is the fact Ronning is yet to sign a contract with the Rangers, and, according to capfriendly.com, they have just two contracts remaining out of the 50 per year they’re allotted under NHL rules.
The Rangers also sent left-winger Ryan Gropp back to the Seattle Thunderbirds last fall for his overage season, and the Kamloops native was a 2015 second rounder.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Ronning stated when asked via text earlier this week if playing pro this season remained the goal, “but, if not, I’ll be back with the Giants, pushing for the playoffs. “I need to grasp the opportunity.” As for the three-goal outing against Tri-City, Ronning explained: “It gives me a little boost of confidence going into camp, but, like all hockey players, you’re only as good as your last game.”
Giants general manager Glen Hanlon says the club “wishes Ty all the best … we want him to play at the best level he can,” but also admitted, “we’re a heck of a lot better hockey team with him in our lineup, because we think he can be one of the highest scoring players in our league this season.”
Ronning followed up 2015-16’s breakout 31-goal year with a 25-goal campaign last season. He’s at 66 goals for his career with the Giants. Brendan Gallagher holds the team mark with 136, while Cain Franson is fifth at 89.
A portion of the Giants’ scoring in 2017-18 will depend, though, on the health of Tyler Benson, who Vancouver is projecting to be their first-line left-winger, teaming with Ronning to flank newcomer Brad Morrison.
Benson has only played 63 games the past two seasons combined with the Giants because of injuries and he had to miss the Canadian world junior team summer camp because of a lower-body ailment. He didn’t attend the Giants’ training camp since the Edmonton Oilers wanted to keep a close watch on their 2016 second-round draft pick.
There had been suggestion that Benson, 19, might not play for Edmonton at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton this week, although the Oilers listed him on the roster they released Tuesday.
The Giants remain hopeful that he’ll in their lineup on opening night (Sept. 22) against the Victoria Royals on the road, but that may be wishful thinking.
Ronning, who turns 20 in October, had two goals and three assists in his 12 games with Hartford last season. He was on an amateur tryout contract.
WHL teams are permitted to carry three 20 year olds during the season. Vancouver has four in camp, with Ronning and Morrison joined by forward Jack Flaman and defenceman Darian Skeoch.
The Giants host a pre-season tournament this weekend in Langley, facing the Prince George Cougars Friday (7 p.m.), the Royals Saturday (6 p.m.) and the Everett Silvertips Sunday (4 p.m.).