Ufko, Willis Spark Admirals to 4-2 Win Over Iowa Wild

Ryan Ufko and Joey Willis supplied the momentum-shifting plays that pushed the Milwaukee Admirals past the Iowa Wild 4-2 at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, a night defined by timely finishes, strong goaltending and pivotal special-teams moments.

Milwaukee took control in the second period. Ufko opened the scoring at 12:36 of the middle frame with a slap shot from the center point that beat Cal Petersen, who finished with 27 saves. Joey Willis extended the lead at 18:21 of the same period, converting a rebound to make it 2-0. Iowa answered quickly: Niclas Aubé-Kubel finished a rush 16 seconds later on an assist from Riley Heidt to cut the deficit to 2-1. Hunter Haight tied the game for Iowa early in the third on a wrister at 5:09, but the Admirals regained the lead later in the frame and added an insurance goal to close out the 4-2 victory.

The shots tell a competitive story. Milwaukee outshot Iowa 26-22 through 40 minutes and finished with more attempts overall, a sign that the Admirals controlled the pace in stretches and pushed play into the offensive zone. Petersen’s 27 saves kept Iowa within striking distance, but Milwaukee’s finishing on rebounds and quality chances made the difference. Special teams and situational execution were decisive; loose-puck work around the crease and quick reaction to rebounds created the clean looks that Ufko and Willis cashed in.

From a performance perspective, Ufko’s slapper from the point and Willis’s rebound finish illustrate two complementary scoring profiles: a threat from distance and a willingness to crash the net. Those are the kinds of offensive plays AHL coaches search for when evaluating prospects ready to graduate to higher roles. Iowa’s response, with Aubé-Kubel and Heidt connecting on a fast sequence, showed the Wild can strike quickly, but they were unable to keep pace late.

Beyond the box score, this result matters for the Admirals’ standing in a congested AHL landscape where momentum and confidence carry through stretches of the schedule. Wins that include high-danger goals and disciplined play generate tangible value for the organization, both in building winning habits for young players and in maintaining fan engagement at a midseason home game. For Iowa, the game underscored the need to finish checks and limit rebound opportunities against opponents who move pucks to the front of the net.

Looking ahead, Milwaukee will aim to leverage the confidence from Ufko’s and Willis’s finishes to sustain offensive pressure in upcoming games, while Iowa will look to tighten rebounding coverage and build on Petersen’s work between the pipes. For fans, the night offered the blend of skill, grit and roster development that makes AHL hockey compelling and relevant to both local communities and parent-club futures.