Tassy begins pro career with AHL’s Bakersfield Condors
April 17, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Senior forward inks two-year, two-way deal with Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate
MADISON, Wis. – Simon Tassy is heading west to start his pro career! The senior forward has inked a two-year, two-way deal with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, starting with the 2026-27 season, the franchise announced on Thursday.
He'll join the Condors for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO).
"I'm super, super excited. There's so many emotions the past few days," Tassy said. "I'm going to miss this place a lot, but I'm looking forward to the new chance I'm going to get. I've been working super hard my entire life for this.
"My parents and my uncle Rudy, those people have been supporting me for my entire life. They've been at every single game since I've been five-years old. My entire family, my brother Xavier and obviously every coach I've had along the way. It's been an unbelievable ride. All the teammates. I've got so many people who have been a part of it and made this experience special."
After transferring to Wisconsin from Minnesota State prior to his sophomore year, the forward tallied 32 goals and 62 points in 110 games over three years at UW. He tallied 14 goals and 23 points in 39 games played during his senior season to rank sixth on the team in scoring and third in goals. He also finished the year with four power-play tallies, tying him for second on the roster.
A past Big Ten Star of the Week, Tassy owns a total of 33 goals and 67 points in 125 NCAA games played. He had a standout performance in the 2026 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, tallying twice in UW's 5-1 win over Dartmouth in the Worcester regional semifinals before opening the scoring in its 2-1 win over North Dakota in the Frozen Four national semifinals. His three goals in the tournament led the UW roster.
"My time here was so special," Tassy added. "The moment I stepped on this campus and just seeing all the facilities and seeing everyone involved -- the support group we have here is one of one and hopefully prepared me for the next step. I'm so grateful for all the time I've spent here.
"Every single player here is special. Even outside of hockey, everyone is going to be successful in life. Just seeing how tight this group was and we had each other's back was the main thing. I think people see it on the ice, but outside of the ice as well. Every morning waking up for practice or workout at 7 in the morning. The grind that we went through. Obviously we didn't get it done at the end but it was such a special run. I'm super proud of everyone here."
The Montreal, Quebec, native finished his collegiate career with goals in six of his last 12 games, and was one of four Badgers to hit double figures in goals, with his 14 tallies marking a career high. He is also the last Badger skater to score a natural hat trick, notching one against Northeastern in the 2023 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title game against Northeastern on Dec. 29 to earn tournament Most Outstanding Forward honors.
Tassy, who graduated with his undergraduate degree in personal finance in three years, is not only accomplished on the ice but in the classroom as well, studying business analytics as a graduate student. To honor his academic achievements, the forward earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2024 as one of three men's ice hockey student-athletes in the conference to have a perfect GPA, as well as being named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an AHCA All-American Scholar and a two-time winner of the team's Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award.
Before coming to Wisconsin, Tassy spent his freshman year at Minnesota State, tallying a goal and five points in an injury-shortened 15-game season as a rookie. Prior to his collegiate career, the forward skated for the BCHL's Salmon Arm Silverbacks for three years, winning the 2022 Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as BCHL MVP after posting 38 goals and 78 points in 53 games.
"I've had many conversations with coach and he's doing a good job with everyone leaving and explaing that this is the first step," Tassy stated. "This means someone right now is believing in you, but now you have to prove people right or prove people wrong. You still need to put in the same effort you've been putting in or even more. The pro game is different.
"I want to have a long career and do my best. Right now I'm just going to wet my feet, meet people and see if I can play some games. I'm going to be ready after the summer for training camp."
