Ng hoping for sophomore success with Hitmen

By Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2025.

By Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald- Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

It was no certainty that Rylan Ng would crack the WHL as a 16-year-old last season, but the Lethbridge product has made the most of all of his opportunities.

Ng was selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the seventh round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, 143rd overall. After a strong performance in training camp and preseason, he cracked the roster for the Hitmen last season appearing in 61 games posting five goals and eight assists with a plus-five rating. Ng also appeared in 10 playoff games for the Hitmen, but did not register a point.

In an interview with the Herald, Ng says he was just focused on giving it all to make the team and good things continued to happen for him after that. 

“That was obviously a huge goal of mine going into camp. I think I just had a positive mindset throughout it all and things happened (for me). I wasn’t prepared to make the team (last year). Everything that happened just kept rolling into the season. We had a really strong team. I enjoyed every game and it was an awesome season.”

So far in his young WHL career, Ng has experienced a lot of success whenever he’s faced his hometown team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Ng scored three times during the 2024 preseason with two of those goals coming in the same game against the Hurricanes. 

The success carried over into the regular season as well for Ng. Two of his five regular season goals were scored against the Hurricanes including his first career multi-point game coming on Nov. 1, 2024 in a 5-3 Calgary win at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Ng says he’s not sure why he has success against Lethbridge, but he enjoys facing the Hurricanes.

“It’s always fun playing in Lethbridge and against them. I don’t know (why) actually, it’s just fun playing against them.”

Ng was second amongst Hitmen rookies last season in games played and scoring trailing only defenceman Hunter Aura who is a year older then Ng. 

Calgary is set to lose five of their top six scorers from last year’s team that lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Hurricanes in seven games.

Oliver Tulk, Connor Hvidston, Carson Wetsch, Carter Yakemchuk and Tanner Howe are not expected back with the Hitmen this season. Pittsburgh Penguins first rounder Ben Kindel is expected to miss the start of the season at NHL training camp.

Ng says he wanted to improve his entire game during the offseason and also wants to improve offensively to help Calgary fill the offensive void.

“I’ve just been continuing to improve everything. I’ve seen my speed, my strength, and all that stuff, but I worked on my shot a lot, so I’m hoping to improve a lot this season and be more offensive.”

Unlike a lot of his other 2008-born counterparts, Ng is not eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Players have to be 18 years of age by Sept. 15 in order to be selected. Because of his birthday falling on Sept. 22, Ng’s first opportunity to be selected by an NHL team will be in 2027.

Ng says he’s going to continue to put the work in to become the best player he can be before the day rolls around.

“It gives me an extra year to improve by putting that extra work in to get that chance. It’s nice that I can have three three full seasons before the potential of getting drafted. I think I can just use that to my advantage and make the most of that.”

Ng and the Calgary Hitmen begin the 2025-26 WHL season on Friday night when they take on the Hurricanes at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena. 

“I’m really excited, it should be a good game.” Ng explained. “It’s awesome to do it in front of friends and family. But I mean, I’m just focused on getting the first win.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.