Weekend Preview: Three Game Set in Youngstown
The Madison Capitols (27-21-0-3) travel to Ohio this weekend to take on the Youngstown Phantoms (36-12-3-1). With 76 points, the Phantoms are first in the USHL standings and have clinched a spot in the Clark Cup Playoffs. The Capitols and Phantoms met in Madison earlier in the season, in a two-game set that they split. Last weekend, Youngstown split two games with the second-place Green Bay Gamblers, while Madison went 1-2, splitting two with Chicago and dropping a Sunday afternoon matchup against Green Bay. Madison enters the weekend in sixth place in a crowded USHL Eastern Conference. As the Capitols push for a spot in the Clark Cup Playoffs, they sit three points behind Cedar Rapids and five points ahead of Chicago.
TEAM LEADERS:
Madison:
Goals - Sam Kappell (21)
Assists - Nolen Geerdes (20)
Points - Sam Kappell (34)
Youngstown:
Goals - Cooper Simpson (30)
Assists - Cooper Simpson (37)
Points - Cooper Simpson (67)
Connections: North Dakota Commits Clash
University of North Dakota commits
Caleb Heil and Cooper Simpson will clash this weekend. Simpson, 19, leads the Youngstown Phantoms with 67 points this season, ranking second in the USHL. Simpson was acquired by the Phantoms before the season from the Tri-City Storm. He appeared in nine games with the Storm in 2024-25, while also captaining his high school team in Minnesota. Simpson's 139 career goals rank eighth all-time in Minnesota high school hockey history. He has been committed to playing for the Fighting Hawks since 2023 and was drafted 79th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins.
Heil, 19, owns the USHL's fifth-best goals against average at 2.30 and is tied for second in the league with three shutouts. Heil announced his commitment to North Dakota in 2023 and was drafted 193rd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In September, Heil became the first Capitols player to appear in an NHL contest before returning to USHL play. The Victoria, Minn. native stood between the pipes for the Lightning in a preseason game against the Nashville Predators. Heil entered the game in the third period and stopped all seven shots he faced through the remainder of regulation and overtime. He then denied Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, and Jonathan Marchessault in a shootout, leading to a Tampa Bay win.
Heil and Simpson will team up in Grand Forks for the 2026-27 season.
Madison Bounces Back, Earning Important Split With Chicago
The Capitols entered last weekend on a two-game losing streak, then lost the first of a two-game set with the Chicago Steel after letting up five straight goals in the third period. Following the loss, Madison dropped to sixth in a crowded Eastern Conference, with the Steel closely behind in seventh. Madison was able to regroup and defeat the Steel 2-1 the following night to stay in position for a spot in the Clark Cup Playoffs. Max Rider showed up again for Madison, scoring his fifth game-winning goal of the year. Caleb Heil bounced back after allowing five goals to only allowing one in the win.
