'Relieved and Excited': Smithtown Native Drafted To NHL Team

PLYMOUTH, MI — Ryan Ufko is a Nashville Predator.

Ufko, 18, who is a Smithtown native, achieved a boyhood dream of his when he was drafted into the National Hockey League on Saturday.

"It feels great," Ufko told Patch. "It’s every hockey player’s dream to be drafted into the NHL, and that was my dream. I feel relieved and excited."

Ufko, a 5 foot 10 inches defenseman weighing in at 181 pounds, was selected in the fourth round with the 115th overall pick by the Predators. Ufko, who is in Michigan for the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase, was in the locker room getting ready to warm up when a couple of fellow Team USA players saw on their phones that Ufko was drafted. Seconds later, Ufko received a phone call from the Predators to welcome him to the organization.

Relief was the prevailing emotion when Ufko realized he was drafted into an NHL organization.

"I had a good idea I was going to get drafted," he said. "Everyone is waiting for their names to be called. I was watching it throughout the day. Just to hear your name get called gives you a sigh of relief. It checks the box that you did what you were wanting to do all along."

Ufko considers himself an offensive-minded defenseman, comparing his style of play to Adam Fox of the New York Rangers. Fox recently won the Norris Trophy for top defenseman in the NHL this past season.

Ufko said he is excited to be drafted by Nashville and lauded the organization for how well they have developed their defensemen over the years.

"They’re a big part of the way they play, and I feel like I can relate to that," he said. "I want to play that style of game."

Ufko attended Smithtown High School West for his freshman year before moving away and earning his diploma at online school Laurel Springs. Being drafted was a "surreal" feeling, he wanted to tell his old community.

"I made a lot of relationships along the way," Ufko said of his time in Smithtown. "Just being driven to do what you dream, what you want to accomplish just takes a lot of hard work. A lot of sacrifices."

Ufko, a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins while growing up, spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. He registered 10 goals and 29 assists in 53 games last season.

Congratulations to the newest member of the @PredsNHL , defenseman Ryan Ufko! pic.twitter.com/EAC4ce9eDT

— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) July" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/ChicagoSte... 24, 2021

He intends to play at the NCAA level with the University of Massachusetts this upcoming season while he develops within Nashville's organization.

Ufko shared a message with Predators fans:

"I’m really grateful that the Predators selected me, and I can’t wait to get things started down there. I look forward to eventually playing in Nashville and embracing their community and playing in front of those fans."