ECHL: Bloomington Bison Bring Back Brett Budgell

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 3:10 AM ET

The Bloomington Bison have announced that they’ve re-signed forward Brett Budgell for the 2025-26 season. Budgell, 24, had 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 47 games last season with the Bison. He finished third in both goals and assists on the Bison. Budgell also had four assists in 11 games at the AHL level with the Hartford Wolf Pack. With the signing of Budgell, Bloomington now has six forwards and 10 players signed for the 2025-26 season. This is another solid signing for the Bison, who seem to be bringing back a decent amount of forwards from last season.

We’re excited to welcome back Brett Budgell, one of the Bison’s top scorers!

https://t.co/DuuKJYiyrv pic.twitter.com/If6YRCm0sh
— Bloomington Bison (@bisonhockeyECHL) September 8, 2025

The St. John’s, Newfoundland, native began his career at home with the Newfoundland Growlers before splitting his sophomore year with the Iowa Wild/Iowa Heartlanders, before signing with an AHL deal with the Wolf Pack. In 163 ECHL games, he’s put up 45 goals and 74 assists for 119 points. Budgell also had four assists in 10 games during the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs. At the AHL level, he has five assists in 30 games.

Budgell began his junior career in the USHL, where he put up two goals and two assists for four points in 14 games with the Chicago Steel. He would spend the rest of his junior career in the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders. In 270 QMJHL games, Budgell would put up 107 goals and 134 assists for 241. Budgell would lead the QMJHL in assists (43) during the 2020-21 season. He would add 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points in 47 QMJHL playoff games.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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