F Bennett Schimek (23)
2025-26 season: Arizona State (NCHC)
Draft Status: Undrafted
Contract: One-Year AHL-Only Contract (March 11, 2026)
The Mendota Heights, MN native was designated the captain of the Sun Devils last season and even though Arizona State was the sole NCHC team not to make the 2026 Frozen Faceoff (2026 NCHC Playoffs), Schimek put up a career-high 43 points (13G, 30A) in a very competitive NCHC conference en route to being named to the 2025-26 NCHC Second All-Star Team. That included a season-high five-point game where he scored a hat trick against Frozen Faceoff runner-up Minnesota-Duluth on Dec. 13, 2025. Even after coming on board with Abbotsford at the end of last season, Schimek has proven he belongs by producing 11 points (5G, 6A) in 13 contests with three multi-point games. He can be a key piece for an Abbotsford offense that was ranked last in goals.
F Austin Brimmer (24)
2025-26 season: Rochester Institute of Technology, RIT (AHA)
Draft Status: Undrafted
Contract: One-Year AHL-Only Contract (March 10, 2026)
Unlike Schimek, Brimmer competed in a less competitive AHA division with RIT. Yet with 25 points (10G, 15A) in 36 games, the 24-year-old didn't crack the top 11 last season in the conference in anything: goals, assists, points, power play goals, shots, shooting percentage or game-winning goals. The Markham, ON native was still able to secure an AHL-only contract albeit for one year with Abbotsford. Now it's all on Brimmer to make the most of his opportunity or he'll be on his way out of the league after next season.
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