INTRODUCING: BUDNICK, EDWARDS, HUGLEN & URDAHL
CRANBERRY, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made several college free-agent signings for 2025-26 towards the end of last season. A handful of those players joined the team immediately on amateur tryout agreements, such as Nolan Renwick and David Breazeale. Some other signings did not make it to Northeast Pennsylvania.
The Penguins continued to add free agents from the junior ranks through the summer with those players also poised to turn pro with the Black and Gold in the fall.
Penguins Development Camp has all of these free-agent acquisitions in the same place at the same time, their first acclimation to the Penguins organization. So now is as good a time as any for fans to acclimate themselves with these new players, too.
We asked newcomers Tommy Budnick, Brayden Edwards, Aaron Huglen and Zach Urdahl a series of introductory questions so Penguins fans can already have a feel for their personalities by the time training camp arrives…
Age: 21
Last team: Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Describe your game for someone who’s never seen you play: “I play a defensive game. I take care of the D-zone. Blocking shots, shutting down top guys, and just playing that shutdown role and just making a good first pass and being reliable, and that’s what I love to do and what I really care about.”
Proudest hockey achievement: “Probably just sticking with hockey and not quitting when things were tough. I didn’t have the opportunity to be drafted or go to the scouting combine or really any interest from college. So just having faith in myself and trusting the process that God has for me and being thankful and grateful for what he’s blessed me with.”
Favorite player growing up: “I really liked Nick Lidström and Scott Stevens. I think they really prioritized the D-zone and just, you know, being defenseman.”
Something people should know about you, other than hockey: “I love life. I’m just grateful to be here. I like to be outside and be with family, and I love the water. Being able to swim is something that I like, just being in the water.”
Favorite summer activity: “Probably going on the boat and just floating in the water.”
What has you most excited to play pro hockey? “I get to continue to learn. I get to continue to grow as a person and as a player, and I get to make mistakes and just learn about myself. I think that’s something that you kind of don’t get to do in junior, but being able to make mistakes and being challenged is something that I love. Competing when things get hard. I’m really excited to put my will to the test there.”
Age: 20
Last team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Describe your game for someone who’s never seen you play: “I’d say I’m a two-way centerman. I like to be put in all situations. I like to be trusted by my coaches to contribute in any way, whether that’s top-end of the line up, lower end of the line up, I’m just doing what I can to help the team win.”
Proudest hockey achievement: “Probably this year, our playoff run we had. I thought I did well individually, and then also the group we had. It was a really special year. We able to battle through injuries in playoffs and just really see how resilient we were as a team.”
Favorite player growing up: “It was always (Sidney) Crosby. That was my first jersey back in the day. I was a Pens fan growing up.”
Something people should know about you, other than hockey: “I’d say I’m a really outdoorsy guy. Coming from B.C., I like to fish. I like to go hunting. I like to ride quads, do all that kind of stuff. So I think that’s something away from hockey that I enjoy doing.”
Favorite summer activity: “I’d say fishing, for sure. That’s my go-to, just going out on a boat with your buddies. I don’t think anything really beats that.”
What has you most excited to play pro hockey? “Just being in this organization, as a whole. Coming to (development) camp, you see how prestigious it is, how they treat their players. I’m just excited to live the pro life and really experience all that.”
Age: 24
Last team: University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Describe your game for someone who’s never seen you play: “I’d say I’m a skilled forward, but I like to be responsible as well. Hopefully can make some plays and put the puck in the net.”
Proudest hockey achievement: “I might get some some flack for this, but Aaron Ness. He plays for Hershey now. He’s a Roseau guy, so growing up, he played for the Gophers, and then I played for the Gophers, so I always looked up to him as a kid. But then I’d say my favorite player growing up was Crosby.”
Favorite player growing up: “Man, I’ve had a couple really close runs for a championship both with the Gophers and with the Fargo Force. When you make it that far, those are always special times. Obviously you wish to win, but I don’t know if it’s one single memory, but just have a lot of great teammates that I think of in that question.”
Something people should know about you, other than hockey: “I’m a follower of Jesus. Jesus is everything to me. That’s something that people will probably find out quickly.”
Favorite summer activity: “Anything at the lake. I like being around the lake, but mainly just being with being with friends and family. Summer is a great time to relax. So definitely doing that.”
What has you most excited to play pro hockey? “I’m married, have a have a daughter, so I think just getting our life started together. They’re moving with me out to Wilkes, so I’m excited to get my life going there. I’m just really happy to be in this organization.”
Age: 23
Last team: University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)
Describe your game for someone who’s never seen you play: “I think I bring a lot of size and speed to the ice. I think my skating something that I try to use to my advantage as much as possible. So I definitely try to use my speed, my size and just trying to bring energy to the group.
Proudest hockey achievement: “Probably going to Wisconsin state high school tournament my junior year. It was the first time my high school had been back there in like 13 years. So to be able to go back was pretty special for me and my teammates.”
Favorite player growing up: “Mikko Koivu was my favorite player growing up, so much so that I had a coach that used to call me Mikko as my nickname. So yeah, probably him because he was a Minnesota Wild player, he was the captain, that was my favorite team growing up. So yeah, I’d say Koivu.”
Something people should know about you, other than hockey: “Something that I’m really big on is being really tight with my family, my close friends. I’d say I have a pretty tight circle of people that I’m really close with, and I take a lot of value in the relationships that I make with my family and my teammates and coaching staff.”
Favorite summer activity: “Probably hanging out my pool back home. My dad’s nice enough to set up a pool every summer and keeping it clean for us. So me and my brother go out there quite a bit and just hang out. It’s pretty nice.”
What has you most excited to play pro hockey? “I think just being a professional hockey player is something that I always dreamed about, something I’ve always worked for. So to be able to get that going and make a dream become a reality is going to be pretty special for me.”
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