Rodrigo Abols

Rodrigo Ābols (born 5 January 1996) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward who plays for SC Bern of the Swiss National League. Ābols was selected in the seventh round, 184th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 NHL entry draft. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career During the 2014–15 season, Ābols skated for both Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and HK Rīga of the Minor Hockey League (MHL). He made his KHL debut on 27 December 2014 with Riga, whom his father, Artis Ābols, coached.

Ābols joined the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 2015–16 season. In 62 games, Ābols registered 20 goals and 49 points. During the 2016 NHL entry draft, Ābols was selected in the seventh round, 184th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks. Ābols split the 2016–17 season between the Winterhawks and the Acadie–Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Ābols skated for Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) during the 2017–18 season. While on loan, he also played for BIK Karlskoga of HockeyAllsvenskan. With his rights expired from the Canucks, he continued his tenure with Örebro HK in the 2018–19 season, increasing his production with 18 goals and 26 points in 45 games.

On 28 May 2019, the Florida Panthers signed Ābols to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Approaching his second season under contract with the Panthers, on 3 August 2020, Ābols returned to Sweden to begin the 2020–21 season on loan with his former club, Örebro HK. He returned to the SHL with the North American season delayed until mid-November due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 13 January 2021, Ābols was released by the Florida Panthers.

Following four seasons in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Ābols returned to North America after securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2024–25 season on 16 June 2024. On 21 January 2025, Ābols made his NHL debut in Philadelphia's 2–1 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings.

On 13 July 2026, he signed a three-year contract with SC Bern of the Swiss National League.

International play Ābols participated at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvian national junior team. He made his senior international debut in Prague at the 2015 IIHF World Championships.

He represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded five goals and two assists and won a bronze medal, Latvia's first ever IIHF World Championship medal.

Ābols was named to the roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, however he suffered an injury and was subsequently removed from the roster.

Personal life Ābols is the son of Artis Ābols, who also played ice hockey and has been the head coach of Dinamo Riga and Lada Togliatti of the Kontinental Hockey League, and Zemgale of the Latvian Hockey Higher League, as well as assistant coach of the Latvia men's national ice hockey team.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 SK Rīga 16 LAT U18 22 20 18 38 18 — — — — — 2012–13 SK Rīga 17 LHHL 14 10 13 23 6 — — — — — 2013–14 HK Rīga MHL 44 7 9 16 34 10 1 0 1 12 2013–14 HK Rīga LHHL 1 1 3 4 0 — — — — — 2014–15 HK Rīga MHL 35 20 18 38 61 3 0 1 1 2 2014–15 Dinamo Rīga KHL 14 1 4 5 4 — — — — — 2015–16 Portland Winterhawks WHL 62 20 29 49 42 4 0 1 1 4 2016–17 Portland Winterhawks WHL 2 0 1 1 7 — — — — — 2016–17 Acadie–Bathurst Titan QMJHL 52 18 32 50 43 11 5 6 11 12 2017–18 Örebro HK SHL 26 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 2017–18 BIK Karlskoga Allsv 18 7 10 17 20 — — — — — 2018–19 Örebro HK SHL 45 18 8 26 20 2 0 1 1 0 2019–20 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 36 7 16 23 15 — — — — — 2019–20 Greenville Swamp Rabbits ECHL 4 3 1 4 4 — — — — — 2020–21 Örebro HK SHL 47 20 15 35 16 9 3 7 10 2 2021–22 Örebro HK SHL 47 14 20 34 6 8 7 3 10 0 2022–23 Örebro HK SHL 51 19 22 41 12 13 0 6 6 2 2023–24 Rögle BK SHL 50 14 12 26 10 15 5 7 12 2 2024–25 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 47 15 17 32 12 7 2 0 2 0 2024–25 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 22 2 3 5 4 — — — — — 2025–26 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 42 3 7 10 22 — — — — — KHL totals 14 1 4 5 4 — — — — — SHL totals 266 85 78 163 70 47 15 24 39 6 NHL totals 64 5 10 15 26 — — — — —

International

Awards and honours AwardYear Juniors MHL All-Star game 2015 SHL SHL Best Plus/Minus 2022International Team Latvia Top 3 Player 2023, 2024