The Milwaukee Admirals continue to find new ways to break ground, and in 2026, the team will accomplish yet another franchise first - their first outdoor game.

The Admirals announced on Friday that they will take on the Iowa Wild in Hastings, Minnesota as part of the 20th annual Hockey Day in Minnesota celebration on January 26th. It will mark the first time that the team takes part in the celebration, with an outdoor game that goes back to the roots of hockey at the United Heroes League complex.

The game will also mark the first time that two professional teams play outdoors as part of Hockey Day in Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild of the NHL have played outdoor hockey most recently in 2022, when they hosted the St. Louis Blues for the annual NHL Winter Classic game, but that was not part of the State of Hockey’s annual celebration. With no AHL franchises in Minnesota, the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, will take on their Central Division rivals in the Admirals. 

Tickets for the game will go on sale on August 4th, with a full schedule of events to be released later. The Admirals/Wild game is currently slated for 5 p.m. on Friday January 23rd. Minnesota boys and girls varsity hockey games will take place on Saturday, January 24th, before the Minnesota Wild play the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at the Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) in St. Paul that evening.

 For more information about Hockey Day in Minnesota, visit the annual celebration’s website.

Let’s go (outdoors) Ads!