Frozen Thriller: Admirals Edge Wild in Historic Outdoor Showdown
HASTINGS, Minn. - Friday night brought us a slice of hockey history, and not just because of the scoreboard. The Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals took their rivalry outside for Hockey Day Minnesota 2026, battling through the coldest outdoor game ever played in professional hockey. With the mercury stuck at a bone-chilling -8°F, the Admirals clawed their way back to stun Iowa 3-2 in overtime - a game that was as much about grit as it was about goals.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a novelty event. Yes, it broke the record for the coldest pro outdoor game - previously set at the 2022 NHL Winter Classic - but the hockey on display was anything but frozen. Both teams brought the heat, and the fans in Hastings were treated to an instant classic.
Fast Start, Frozen Finish
Iowa came out with purpose. Late in the first period, Hunter Haight opened the scoring after some slick work down low by Dylan Gambrell and Carson Lambos. Haight found a seam near the crease and slipped the puck past Admirals netminder Matthew Murray, who would go on to make 25 saves on the night.
The Wild controlled much of the first period, outshooting Milwaukee 14-10 and showing early signs that the cold wouldn’t slow them down.
They doubled their lead midway through the second. Ryan Sandelin muscled home a rebound under Murray, with Bradley Marek and Jaxon Nelson picking up the helpers. At that point, it looked like Iowa had the edge - both on the scoreboard and in the flow of play.
But Milwaukee wasn’t going away. Ryder Rolston answered with a laser past Samuel Hlavaj late in the second, cutting the deficit in half and shifting the momentum. Through two periods, the teams were dead even in shots (18 apiece), setting up a tense final frame.
Admirals’ Resilience Seals the Deal
The third period saw Milwaukee continue to chip away. Daniel Carr threaded a perfect pass to Oasiz Wiesblatt, who buried the equalizer from the back door just under eight minutes in. With the game tied and the cold intensifying, both teams dug in defensively, forcing overtime.
That’s when Zach L’Heureux stepped up.
Just 1:35 into the extra frame, L’Heureux drove hard down the right wing, cut across the front of the net, and finished with a smooth forehand move to beat Hlavaj and complete the comeback. It was the kind of goal that doesn’t just win games - it defines them.
Milwaukee outshot Iowa 37-27 overall and capitalized on one of their four power play chances. Iowa, meanwhile, went 0-for-1 with the man advantage, a missed opportunity that loomed large by the end.
Looking Ahead
These two teams don’t have to wait long to run it back. They’ll meet again Saturday night in Milwaukee, with puck drop set for 6 p.m. at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. After a game like this, expect plenty of carryover - and maybe a few more fireworks.
The Wild may have lost the battle under the stars, but they showed plenty of fight. And with the temperature (hopefully) climbing indoors, the rematch promises to bring just as much intensity - minus the frostbite.