TEMPE – Sun Devil forwards Bennett Schimek and Noah Powell both signed professional contracts announced on Wednesday, March 11.
Schimek signed a one-year contract set to begin in the 2026-27 season with the Abbotsford Canucks, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks. Additionally, he will compete in the remainder of the 2025-26 AHL season on a professional tryout agreement.
Schim heading north 😈
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 11, 2026
Congrats to Bennett Schimek for signing with the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks! #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/14RkHNaudo
Schimek spent two years at Arizona State and was named co-captain in the 2025-26 season. He tallied 43 points (13G, 30A) in the season, led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) with 29 points in conference-only games and holds the fifth-most points in program history with 80 (28G, 52A).
Schimek began his collegiate career at Providence, suiting up for the Friars across two seasons. In his NCAA career he has compiled 117 points (47 G, 70A) in 141 games. Schimek was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy award nominee and was selected to the All-NCHC Second-Team in 2025-26.
Powell inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers after being drafted in the fifth round (pick 148) of the 2024 NHL draft. Powell will report to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the remainder of the 2025-26 AHL season.
Pen to paper on a three-year entry-level deal set to begin in the 2026-27 season ✍️ #BeTheTradition https://t.co/wBxvSL1nrb pic.twitter.com/wVK3bmsXEE
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 11, 2026
In his only season as a Sun Devil, Powell recorded 12 points (7G, 5A) in 34 games. Before that, he split time with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) and Ohio State (NCAA), putting up 22 points (9G, 13A) in his time with the Generals and five points (2G, 3A) with the Buckeyes.
Prior to his collegiate career, the 21-year-old skated for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL for two seasons (2022-2024), where he led the league with 43 goals and ranked fifth for points with 74. Powell tallied 93 points (51G, 42A) in 114 games with the Fighting Saints.
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