NAHL and IceRays alum Schmid signs NHL contract

The New Jersey Devils have signed former NAHL and Corpus Christi IceRays goalie Akira Schmid, the club's fifth-round pick and the 136th-overall section in the 2018 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2021-22 season. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Schmid, who turned 21 this past Wednesday, made his American junior hockey debut back during the 2018-19 season in the NAHL with the Corpus Christi IceRays. While Schmid only played in two games in late October, he was named the NAHL’s South Division Star of the Week as he allowed just three goals on 58 shots in two weekend wins. For the remainder of that season, Schmid would play in the USHL for the Omaha Lancers.

Schmid recently finished playing his 2020-21 season with Sioux City (USHL). The 6-foot-5, 205-pound netminder posted a 22-13-1 record in 36 games with three shutouts, a 2.01 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. He ranked first in the United States Hockey League in regular-season save percentage and goals-against average. Last Week, Sioux City was eliminated in the Clark Cup Playoffs by Fargo, as Schmid went 2-2 with a .920 save percentage and 2.28 GAA. Akira split 2019-20 with Sioux City and Omaha where he played 13 games overall. In 2018-19, he spent most of the season with Omaha, posting a 16-14-2 mark in 37 games with three shutouts, a 2.18 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. His save percentage was the best in the USHL, his GAA ranked second and he was named to the Third All-Star Team. 

Born in Bern, Switzerland, Schmid has been named to his home country's roster for three under-20 World Junior Championships (2018-20) and two under-18 World Junior Championships (2017, '18).