Giants' Ronning inks with Rangers

Giants’ Ronning inks with Rangers

Vancouver Giants top offensive weapon signs on with New York Rangers

Ty Ronning is investing in some Lower Mainland real estate after the New York Rangers invested in the Vancouver Giants top sniper.

Ronning, a 20-year-old in his final year of junior eligibility, said he plans on making a down payment on an apartment after signing his entry level NHL contract with the Rangers on Monday.

“Trying to make a smart investment,” he told The Times via text message after news broke he had signed with the Rangers.

Consider it a smart investment on both sides.

The Rangers drafted Ronning in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL entry draft. And they could have signed Ronning before this season and let him play in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

He played a dozen games with the Wolf Pack at the end of last season and acquitted himself quite well at the AHL level with two goals and five points. New York also thought enough of Ronning to have him wear the captain’s ‘C’ for their team at the annual Traverse City Prospects tournament.

But instead, they returned him to junior and Ronning responded with an MVP-calibre season.

Ronning — who has already set a new team record with 55 goals with seven games still to play— has scored 26 per cent of his team’s goals this season and with 77 points, has been involved in 36 per cent of the offence.

“I’m so thankful to my family, friends, teammates, coaches, the Vancouver Giants management and ownership group and the fans for supporting me for the past five seasons,” he said.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s paying off, and now the real work begins. It’s an honour to sign with the New York Rangers.”

But before he embarks on his professional career, Ronning is focused on finishing up strong with his Giants team which qualified for the Western Hockey League playoffs over the weekend.

SEE: Giants clinch post-season berth for first time in four years

“It’s good to have this (contract) done on an individual standpoint,” he said. “My main goal is playoffs and continuing to push (my teammates) for each game.”

Vancouver is coming off a weekend which saw them win just one of three games.

The Giants are back in action on March 7 when they visit the Kelowna Rockets.


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Langley Times