VP Sports & Entertainment presents: Former WHL Humanitarian of the Year Fiddler-Schultz signs with Buffalo Sabres

Former WHL Humanitarian of the Year and Calgary Hitmen Captain Riley Fiddler Schultz has earned his first NHL contract.

The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday morning.

Fiddler-Schultz signed with Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, as an undrafted free agent in 2023-24 after completing his WHL eligibility.

The 6-foot, 200-pound forward split his first pro season between the Amerks and the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen before making the full-time jump to the AHL in 2024-25.

He’s tallied 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 57 regular-season AHL games, in addition to a goal and two helpers in eight playoff matches in the spring of 2025.

Fiddler-Schultz was originally drafted by the Hitmen in the seventh round of the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft, going on to play five seasons in Calgary and leaving a lasting legacy.

He piled up 77 goals and 112 assists for 189 points over 246 regular-season matches.

The Sherwood Park, Alta. product was named to the WHL Central Division First All-Star Team in 2023 and the Second All-Star Team in 2022.

Fiddler-Schultz also won the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2020- his numerous initiatives included Fidds’ Friends, which saw more than 60 Boys & Girls Club of Calgary participants attend Hitmen games and meet him throughout the season.

He also started an annual campaign to fill his father’s pickup truck with donations for the local Veterans Food Bank, participated in outreach programs like HEROS Hockey, and supported the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Talk Today campaign.

Fiddler-Schultz is also the cousin of Edmonton Oil Kings standout and Seattle Kraken prospect Blake Fiddler.