The Capitols kick off the 2025-26 season at the 2025 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic. The team will play on the final two dates of the event against Western Conference opponents Lincoln and Fargo.

Madison's Winning Brand(t)
This season will be the third for Head Coach and General Manager Andy Brandt after making the playoffs in each of the first two seasons. Last season, Madison skated to a team record in points, 84, and wins, 39, to go along with the best point percentage since the team's return to the league in 2014, .677. Brandt's point percentage since taking over, .621, is .121 better than the next best in the team's Tier I era, Tom Upton - .508. The Capitols have the fifth best point percentage among USHL teams over the past two seasons.

Experience Between the Pipes & On the Blue Line
16 players on the team's opening roster skated in games last season for the Capitols including goaltender Caleb Heil. Heil broke the team's single-season record for wins, 25, in a season in 2024-25 before being drafted by Tampa Bay in this summer's NHL Draft. Along with Heil coming back, all eight defensemen on the roster played in USHL games last season including six seeing the ice during playoff action. This includes both of the top pair from last season, Austin Moline and John Stout. The duo finished first and third in plus-minus in the USHL last season.

Forward Group Led by Kappell & Uhlenkamp
The Capitols forward group features a mix of proven production and developing talent heading into the new season. Despite losing their top eight point producers from 2024-25, Madison returns two thirty-point scorers in Sam Kappell and Gavin Uhlenkamp to lead the charge. Minnesota commit Jackson Nevers looks to build on his impact after battling injuries for much of the second half following his arrival from Waterloo in November.

History Made, Future Secured
For the first time in team history, the Capitols tendered multiple players in an offseason. Madison had never tendered a forward in team history prior to Stephen Cover inking his commitment to play with the Caps this season in April. Just three days following Cover's tender, Madison tendered Michael Tang. The duo joined defensemen Will Felicio, 2022, and Jet Kwajah, 2024, as the only tenders in team history.

Dancing With the Stars
Last season's Anderson Cup champions are the first opponent of the Capitols this season. Lincoln won all three meetings between the two teams last season and is one of two teams to have a winning record against Madison since Andy Brandt took over in the fall of 2023. The Capitols are 5-8-2-0 all time against the Stars. Last season's meeting at the Fall Classic, a 5-2 Stars victory, was the first neutral site meeting between the two organizations. Andy Brandt has won the first game of each of his first two seasons as head coach of Madison.

May the Force Be With You
The Force only played Madison twice last season, both won by the Capitols at home in February. This will be the second time that Madison will face the Force at the Fall Classic since the event's inception. Fargo won that lone meeting in Pittsburgh in the fall of 2022 by a score of 8-1. The Capitols are 4-9-1-3 against Fargo all time. Under Andy Brandt, Madison boasts a record of 3-1-0-0 against the Force including accounting for one of the Force's ten regulation losses during the 2023-24 season.

Game & Broadcast Information
Puck drop is set for 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT on Saturday against Lincoln. Sunday afternoon's contest against Fargo will start at 11:30 am ET/10:30 am CT. Both games will be streamed live on FloHockey, subscription required.

Madison returns home the following Friday, September 26th, for the team's home opener against Dubuque. It's a $1 Beer Night presented by Coors Light. Tickets are on sale at tickets.madcapshockey.com.

Stay connected with the Madison Capitols on social media and the team's official website for the latest updates, news, and behind-the-scenes content.

Visit the Capitols website: madcapshockey.com

Engage with the Capitols on X: @madcapshockey

Like the Capitols on Facebook: facebook.com/madcapshockey

Follow the Capitols on Instagram: @madcapshockey