Ryan Ufko Bio
Ryan Richard Ufko is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) and a prospect for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey at the University of Massachusetts and was selected 115th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Richard Ufko was born on May 7, 2003, in Smithtown, New York. He is the son of Michael Ufko and Jennifer Ufko and has one sibling, Justin. Ufko attended Smithtown High School and graduated from Laurel Springs Online High School, completing the academic requirements that accompanied his junior and collegiate hockey development.
Ufko’s early hockey development included time in the United States Hockey League, where he played for the Chicago Steel, gaining experience in a top North American junior league before moving to the collegiate level. His junior play and stature as a right-shot defenseman drew attention from scouts and set the stage for his selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Path to Hockey
Ufko played two seasons with the Chicago Steel. In the 2019–20 USHL season he recorded two goals and seven assists in 43 games, and in the 2020–21 season he posted ten goals and 29 assists in 53 games, helping the Steel capture the Clark Cup championship. His performance in 2020–21 earned him All-USHL First Team recognition and boosted his draft stock ahead of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Following his time in the USHL, Ufko accepted a collegiate scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, joining a program that allowed him to develop both offensively and defensively at the NCAA Division I level. His progress at UMass, combined with his junior accomplishments and draft selection by Nashville, mapped a clear pathway from junior hockey to the professional ranks.
Ryan Ufko Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
During his junior career with the Chicago Steel from 2019 to 2021, Ufko established himself as a two-way defenseman with playmaking ability. In 2019–20 he appeared in 43 games and recorded two goals and seven assists, then produced a breakout 2020–21 campaign with ten goals and 29 assists in 53 games while contributing to the Steel’s Clark Cup title.
Ufko’s junior resume included recognition on the All-USHL First Team in 2021, a distinction that reflected his impact at the position and factored into his selection by the Nashville Predators, who took him 115th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
UMass Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Ufko began his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts in the 2021–22 season and made an immediate offensive impact as a freshman, recording five goals and 26 assists in 37 games. His 26 assists tied for the national lead among rookie defensemen, and his 39 points ranked third among rookie defensemen nationwide; he led Hockey East in conference play with 19 assists in 24 games and was named to the All-Hockey East Rookie Team.
In the 2022–23 sophomore season Ufko posted eight goals and 16 assists in 32 games, finished third on the team in scoring with 24 points, and led the Minutemen in blocked shots with 48, earning All-Hockey East Second Team honors. He was also selected to represent the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded one goal and nine assists in seven games and helped the U.S. squad win a bronze medal; his nine assists were the most among defensemen in the tournament and his ten total points tied for the tournament lead among defensemen.
Named a co-captain of the Minutemen on September 11, 2023, Ufko delivered a standout 2023–24 junior season with ten goals and 16 assists in 37 games, ranking third on the team with 26 points and leading the roster in blocked shots with 55. He tied a program single-season record with six power-play goals and six game-winning goals, won the Len Ceglarski Award, was named to the All-Hockey East First Team, and earned AHCA East First Team All-American honors. He completed his collegiate career with 23 goals and 58 assists in 106 games for UMass.
Milwaukee Admirals Era (2024–Present)
On March 29, 2024, Ryan Ufko signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators. Under that contract, which runs from 2024 through 2027, he is a Predators prospect assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League as he begins his professional career starting in 2024.
As a member of the Milwaukee Admirals and a Nashville organization prospect, Ufko entered the professional ranks following a decorated collegiate career and a prominent international showing at the World Junior Championship; his development in the AHL represents the next stage of his progression within the Predators’ depth chart.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ufko plays as a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman with notable playmaking instincts and power-play scoring ability, demonstrated by his high assist totals at UMass and multiple power-play goals in a single season. He also brings a physical and defensive element, regularly leading his college team in blocked shots, which reflects a two-way game and willingness to engage in defensive responsibilities while facilitating offense from the blue line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Ufko’s career include winning the Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel in 2021, selection to All-USHL and All-Hockey East teams, representing the United States at the 2023 World Junior Championship where he tied for the defenseman scoring lead, being named an AHCA East First Team All-American in 2024, and signing his NHL entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators in March 2024.
Ryan Ufko Career Wins
Across junior, collegiate and international competition, Ufko compiled significant offensive totals for a defenseman and collected team and individual honors that mark his development path. His junior and college totals, tournament production at the World Junior Championship, and postseason achievements provide a record of consistent contribution from the blue line.
UMass Highlights
At the University of Massachusetts, Ufko finished with 23 goals and 58 assists in 106 games, led Hockey East rookies in assists as a freshman, and set program marks during his junior season with six power-play goals and six game-winning goals. His final collegiate season earned him the Len Ceglarski Award, All-Hockey East First Team honors, and AHCA East First Team All-American recognition.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the USHL with the Chicago Steel Ufko recorded 12 goals and 36 assists over two seasons, including a Clark Cup championship in 2021, and he delivered a major international performance at the 2023 World Junior Championship where he recorded ten points in seven games and won a bronze medal with the United States.
Ryan Ufko Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ufko was born and raised in Smithtown, New York, and is the son of Michael and Jennifer Ufko; he has one sibling, Justin. His family background and local upbringing preceded his movement into junior hockey and eventually collegiate competition at UMass.
Personal Life
Publicly available information identifies Ufko’s parents and sibling and documents his academic path through Smithtown High School and Laurel Springs Online High School before matriculating at the University of Massachusetts. No public, verifiable information on a spouse or children is provided in available records.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season will be Ryan Ufko’s second professional season under his three-year entry-level contract that runs from 2024 through 2027. He is a Nashville Predators prospect assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League as he continues his development within the Predators organization.
Ufko enters the 2025 campaign following a decorated collegiate tenure and an international podium performance, carrying the experience of leadership as a former UMass co-captain and the competitive resume of an All-American into his ongoing professional development.