Ryan Ufko Bio
Ryan Richard Ufko is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 115th overall by the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Ufko developed his game through the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) before turning professional in 2024. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing roughly 182 pounds, he is recognized as a smooth-skating, playmaking defenseman with strong instincts at both ends of the ice.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Richard Ufko was born on May 7, 2003, in Smithtown, New York. He grew up in a supportive family headed by his father, Michael Ufko, and his mother, Jennifer Ufko, and has one sibling, Justin. The Long Island community where he was raised provided early access to youth hockey programs that helped shape his development as a defenseman.
Ufko attended Smithtown High School before graduating from Laurel Springs Online High School, an arrangement that allowed him the flexibility to pursue higher-level hockey opportunities while completing his secondary education. His commitment to training and travel hockey during these formative years set the stage for his jump to junior competition in the USHL at a young age.
Path to Hockey
Ufko entered the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel, where he spent two seasons developing against elite amateur competition. During the 2019–20 season, he recorded two goals and seven assists in 43 games, establishing himself as a steady rookie presence on the blue line. The following year, he elevated his production dramatically, posting ten goals and 29 assists in 53 games while helping the Steel capture the Clark Cup and earning a place on the All-USHL First Team.
His success with Chicago attracted the attention of NHL scouts, and the Nashville Predators selected him 115th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Rather than turn professional immediately, Ufko chose to continue his development in college hockey, enrolling at UMass to refine his game within the Hockey East conference.
Ryan Ufko Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Ufko’s junior career with the Chicago Steel served as the foundation of his professional trajectory. Across two USHL seasons, he showed steady growth, doubling his offensive output in his second year and helping his team claim a Clark Cup championship. He also represented the United States at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he recorded one goal and nine assists in seven games to win a bronze medal. His ten points tied for the tournament lead among defensemen with Ludvig Jansson, while his nine assists led all blueliners. Five assists in the quarterfinal against Germany on January 2, 2023, tied for the second-most in a single game by an American in IIHF World Junior Championship history.
UMass Era (2021–2024)
Ufko joined the UMass Minutemen for the 2021–22 season and immediately became one of the top rookie defensemen in the country. He recorded five goals and 26 assists in 37 games, with his 26 assists tying for the national lead among rookie defensemen and his 39 points ranking third at the position. He also led Hockey East in conference play with 19 assists in 24 games, earning a spot on the All-Hockey East Rookie Team.
As a sophomore in 2022–23, Ufko posted eight goals and 16 assists in 32 games, ranking third on the team in scoring with 24 points while leading the squad with 48 blocked shots. His strong two-way play earned him a place on the All-Hockey East Second Team. On September 11, 2023, he was named a co-captain for the Minutemen, signaling his growing leadership role within the program.
During his junior year in 2023–24, Ufko recorded ten goals and 16 assists in 37 games, again ranking third on the team in scoring with 26 points and leading UMass with 55 blocked shots. His six power-play goals and six game-winning goals tied a program single-season record. Following the season, he won the Len Ceglarski Award, was named to the All-Hockey East First Team, and was selected as an AHCA East First Team All-American. He was also a finalist for Hockey East Player of the Year and a New England Men’s Division I All-Star. Across three college seasons, Ufko finished with 23 goals and 58 assists in 106 games.
Milwaukee Admirals Era (2024–Present)
On March 29, 2024, Ufko signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, beginning his professional career with the Milwaukee Admirals. His transition to the AHL marked the next phase of his development as the Predators organization continued to refine his offensive and defensive responsibilities. The contract, running through 2027, reflects the franchise’s confidence in his long-term potential as an NHL defenseman.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ufko is widely regarded as an offensively gifted defenseman who thrives in transition and on the power play. His vision, passing accuracy, and poise under pressure allow him to quarterback a power play effectively, while his willingness to block shots and contribute defensively underscores his two-way commitment. He combines high hockey IQ with smooth skating, making him a reliable presence in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ufko’s most memorable achievements are his Clark Cup victory with the Chicago Steel in 2021, his bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships, and his record-tying six power-play goals during his junior year at UMass. His five-assist performance against Germany at the 2023 World Juniors stands as one of the most productive single-game efforts by an American defenseman in tournament history.
Ryan Ufko Career Wins
Ryan Ufko has collected meaningful team and individual honors at every level of his development, beginning with a Clark Cup championship in junior hockey and continuing with multiple all-conference selections in college.
UMass Highlights
Across three seasons with the UMass Minutemen, Ufko earned three different All-Hockey East selections, including Rookie Team honors in 2022, Second Team recognition in 2023, and First Team distinction in 2024. He capped his collegiate career with the Len Ceglarski Award in 2024, an honor given to the program’s most outstanding player, alongside his AHCA East First Team All-American selection.
Other Wins and Performances
Ufko helped the Chicago Steel capture the Clark Cup in 2021 and later represented the United States at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he won a bronze medal and tied for the tournament lead in defenseman scoring. His consistent production at both the junior and collegiate levels has positioned him as a promising prospect within the Nashville Predators organization.
Ryan Ufko Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Ryan Richard Ufko was raised by his father, Michael Ufko, and his mother, Jennifer Ufko, alongside one sibling, Justin. While the family is not widely known for a multi-generational hockey lineage, their support enabled Ryan to pursue elite training opportunities from a young age, including flexible schooling arrangements that allowed him to compete at higher levels.
Personal Life
Ufko focuses much of his attention on his professional hockey career, having signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators in March 2024 that runs through 2027. As a young prospect still early in his professional journey, he continues to balance the demands of AHL competition with his long-term aspirations of becoming a full-time NHL defenseman.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Ryan Ufko continued his development with the Milwaukee Admirals, working to translate his collegiate production into consistent professional results. The Predators organization views him as a long-term blue-line prospect, and his responsibilities with Milwaukee reflect a steady progression toward an eventual NHL opportunity. His combination of offensive creativity and defensive responsibility remains central to his growth trajectory within the system.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Ufko has leaned on his Hockey East experience, particularly his poise with the puck and his power-play efficiency. His familiarity with high-tempo, structured systems at UMass has eased his transition to the AHL level, where coaches continue to refine his defensive positioning and penalty-killing duties.
Looking ahead, Ufko’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 remains promising as he pursues his first NHL call-up. His track record of leading defensive categories such as blocked shots and assists at every prior level suggests he is well-positioned to earn a longer look from the Predators as the season progresses.