Just when the Milwaukee Admirals couldn’t get any younger three new faces arrived after their college and junior seasons concluded.
The Nashville Predators have stocked up for a bright future as both general manager Barry Trotz and assistant general manager Scott Nichol have been hard at work finding what they wanted to add.
These three new faces were drafted no later than 2019 with one arriving to the organization after forward Yakov Trenin was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
That was defenseman Jeremy Hanzel who just finished his fourth season as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL. On the day he was dealt Hanzel signed his entry-level contract with the Avalanche, and the next thing he knew he was dealt to the Predators.
Defenseman Jeremy Hanzel making up the middle of the ice during a game against the Grand Rapids Griffins on March 29, 2024.
“One of my buddies was on the music in the locker room and he looked on his phone and saw a TSN notification that I was traded,” Hanzel said. “I had about 15 missed calls but it was a weird day and then I had to talk to a bunch of people and then hop on the ice for practice. It was a whirlwind for sure.”
A few days later Hanzel met Trotz and some of the Predators when they played against the Seattle Kraken. Hanzel went down to the locker room after a 4-1 win and met the captains of the team and head coach Andrew Brunette.
“I talked to Trotz most of the warmups that night, I had a buddy with me so I could talk to someone,” Hanzel said. “It was a really cool experience and everyone was happy after the win.”
Now Hanzel is taking in being a professional for an Admirals team that sits on top of the Central Division.
“Everyone is a pro here so everyone knows how to do everything the right way,” Hanzel said of adjusting to Milwaukee. “I think it was like that in Seattle too with a younger team. All the staff and management know what it’s like to be a pro and they try to implement that into Seattle’s culture.”
Another defenseman who turned pro after his junior year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was Ryan Ufko. He was co-captain in the 2023-24 campaign alongside Aaron Bohlinger for the Minutemen.
Ufko said he and his camp had this planned as a possibility after his third year of playing in the NCAA. The 115th pick from the 2021 draft was trying to stay on track once he knew things were pointing to him turning pro.
“Coming here all of the staff and players have been really welcoming showing me the ropes,” Ufko said. “It’s been a really easy adjustment so a credit to all of them.”
So far as an Admiral Ufko has been playing with Marc Del Gaizo who’s also a UMass alum. The duo never played together in college but now they are under the arena lights as Admirals.
Ryan Ufko celebrates his first career goal as an Admiral on April 12, 2024, against the Chicago Wolves.
“It’s good to have a familiar face when you go anywhere. He was in the exact same spot I was playing at UMass, leaning on him and the older guys,” Ufko said. “The older guys here have said for me to do my thing despite it being a new level.”
Based on how he played this season with the Minutemen Ufko felt he’d become a professional at the season’s end. In the three years he played college hockey Ufko finished third in team scoring each season.
Then as a captain, he held more responsibility this past season but it was something he knew he could do.
“The younger guys really look up to you so that was something I wanted to treat well, not just with my words but also my actions, how I play, and everything I do off the ice,” Ufko said. “Eyes were on me every single day so my mentality was to lead by example.”
Moving along the soon-to-be 21-year-old on May 7 Ufko wants to stick to what he does best and take advantage of closing out on skaters quicker at a more elite level. Boxing out opponents is what he hopes to do while soaking in a new experience.
On Friday night Ufko put up his second multi-point performance with Milwaukee scoring his first goal and third assist in just his fourth game of professional hockey. He was also named to the AHCA’s First Team East All-American squad on Friday as well.
UFKO!#MILhockey pic.twitter.com/ZsfvnEM2le
— x – Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) April 13, 2024
Another new face on the Admirals is 23-year-old forward Alex Campbell. He’s been a regular at Predators rookie camp the last five years but finally made it to Milwaukee after a career year at Northeastern University.
“Everyone is pretty inclusive here, you can talk to anyone. I’m trying to learn as much as I can from them,” Campbell said. “Trying to pick their brain a little bit and learn a thing or two along the way.”
After transferring from Clarkson University to Northeastern Campbell had to adjust to a new league and style of play.
“There was a lot of high-end skill there and with my linemates this year,” Campbell said. “It was a great learning experience, playing in a tournament like the Bean Pot too winning that was super special.”
Alex Campbell between a stoppage on March 29, 2024, against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
While Campbell continues to figure out his role in the AHL he wants to stick to his guns by being a body in front of the net and attacking as often as possible. He finished with a career-best 22 goals in 36 games with Northeastern this season and hopes the knack for scoring remains the same.
Campbell is five games into his tenure with the Admirals and said he’s yet to reflect on the signing but went down memory lanes and thoughts began to flood his mind.
“It was awesome getting to call my parents to tell them the good news, it’s a special moment for me but also for them,” Campbell said. “It’s crazy going from college to pro, it’s a different lifestyle so I’m trying to acclimate to that.”
What excited Campbell as well is being coached by Karl Taylor. He’s seen him a lot since being drafted in 2019 and is excited to be around the staff daily.
“Clearly he’s doing something right, It’s nice to be in the locker room with him and learn from him,” Campbell said. “Trying to keep an open mind and being open to coaching, he says the right things at the right times and it’s been great so far.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Milwaukee Admirals
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