The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue their quest for the Calder Cup this season, but the club is also looking towards the future, agreeing to contracts with three NCAA players for next season. 

On Monday, the AHL club signed David Breazeale (University of Maine), Aaron Huglen (University of Minnesota), and Zach Urdahl (University of Nebraska-Omaha). Both Breazeale and Huglen served as captains at their respective schools. 

Last season, 24-year-old defenseman Breazeale wrapped up his four-year stint with Maine, scoring three goals and 13 points with a plus-10 rating. In 144 NCAA games, he scored eight goals and 51 points with only 42 penalty minutes with a plus-27 rating.

The native of Grandville, MI, wore a letter for three seasons, serving as an alternate captain for one year before a promotion to captain his final two. Breazeale was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team member before winning the Hockey East Championship in 2024-25.

Like Breazeale, Huglen was captain at Minnesota, scoring five goals and 19 points in 38 games. The 24-year-old forward from Roseau, MN, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round (102th overall) at the 2019 Draft. 

On top of winning three B1G regular season championships, Huglen won the B1G Sportsmanship Award in 2024-25. He finished his NCAA career with 32 goals and 73 points in 150 games with 63 penalty minutes and a plus-18 rating. 

Finally, Urdahl, who split his NCAA games with the University of Wisconsin and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, has a chance to make his pro debut in 2025-26. The 23-year-old left winger scored 12 goals and 22 points in 33 games last season. 

The native of Eau Claire, WI, skated in 137 college games, scoring 35 goals with 65 points while collecting 28 penalty minutes and a minus-12 rating. Urdahl's only NCAA accolade included an NCHC All-Tournament Team member in 2023-24.

The Penguins have already clinched a playoff spot for the 2024-25 postseason and are 37-21-7-1. They are looking for their first 40-win season since 2017-18.