Milwaukee Admirals Gear Up for Historic Outdoor Match
For the first time in their 55-year history, the Milwaukee Admirals are set to compete in an outdoor arena. This unique event will take place on January 23, when the Admirals face off against the Iowa Wild at the United Heroes League complex in Hastings, Minnesota.
This game is particularly notable as it marks the inaugural instance of a professional hockey match being featured in Hockey Day Minnesota, an eight-day festival that celebrates the sport in the state. More details on the event can be found here.
“The setting is going to be beautiful and we’ll see what January looks like in Minnesota, but it should be really a cool experience,” commented Jon Greenberg, president of the Milwaukee Admirals.
Outdoor hockey games are a rarity in the AHL, with this being only the 13th in the league’s history, as noted in a statement from the Iowa Wild. The full statement can be accessed here.
Admirals forward Daniel Carr, with experience in two previous outdoor games including the 2016 NHL Winter Classic, reminisced, “It kind of brings you back to starting out hockey… I think all the guys are really excited about it.”
In 2022, Minneapolis hosted a record-setting cold game as part of the NHL Winter Classic. The temperature then was around -10°F. Hastings averages a low of six degrees Fahrenheit in January, raising concerns about the weather. Carr humorously noted, “Hopefully they got heaters on the bench.”
Aaron Sims, the team’s play-by-play broadcaster and a local to the area, shared his excitement: “To be outside in that part of the country, to do this for the first time, at this level, is pretty special for me.”
With a seating capacity for 5,000 fans, the game is expected to draw a significant crowd. Greenberg anticipates a strong turnout from Admirals supporters, advising, “I hope they (fans) dress warm.”
To combat the cold, the Admirals’ equipment managers are coordinating with other teams experienced in outdoor games. Should the weather prove too extreme, a backup plan is in place to relocate the game indoors. “But everybody knows that it’s winter, everybody knows that it’s Minnesota, that it’s going to be cold,” Greenberg acknowledged.
Previously, outdoor games have been held at renowned venues like Wrigley Field and Lambeau Field, featuring college hockey teams. The AHL, often referred to as the development league for the NHL, plays a critical role in shaping future NHL talent. For more information on the AHL, visit here.
