The Capitols are set to open the 2026 Preseason this weekend as they take part in a home-and-home series against Cedar Rapids.
The pair of games will mark the first for the Capitols new bench boss, Trent Eigner. Eigner was hired in August after Andy Brandt's departure for the University of Wisconsin. The new Head Coach & General Manager played for Madison during his playing career.
The Capitols return eleven players from the team's roster a season ago including three defenseman, seven forwards, and one goaltender. Leading the way is Gustavs Griva who tied for the team lead in points last season with 36 in just 49 games played. Along with Griva, Max Rider, Nolen Geerdes, and Caleb Pittsley all ranked within the top six of the team in points last season and are back for 2026-27. Cash Cruitt is the lone returning goaltender from the roster a season ago, although all three net minders had time in net for Madison last season.
For the first time in three seasons, the first three selections in the Phase II Draft for Madison are on the roster for the 2026 Preseason. Logan Lutner joins the Capitols after two seasons at the USNTDP and will be a big piece of the team's blue line this season. Up front, Michal Jakubec and Daniel Halonen jump into the fold. Jakubec played last season for HK Dukla Trencin U20 along with playing for Slovakia at the World U18 Championships, which were held in his home country. Halonen registered 80 points in 31 games at Delano HS in Minnesota, which earned him a spot as a finalist for Mr. Hockey.
Cedar Rapids stays loaded after hosting playoff games last season. 18 players that played significant minutes in 2025-26 for the Riders return led by four members of the All-Rookie Second Team last season, David Bosco, Braiden Scuderi, Ethan Piercy, and Joseph Skidmore.
When the two teams met in the preseason in 2025, the home team won each of the two matchups, Madison winning 9-3 and Cedar Rapids winning 4-3 the following night. In the Friday night victory for Madison, Max Rider scored four goals and added an assist. The following night, the Caps battled back from down 3-0 to tie the game in the final minute of the game before Cedar Rapids answered seven seconds after the tying goal to win.
The Capitols are 6-2-0-0 against Cedar Rapids all time in the preseason with the only other Madison loss to the RoughRiders coming on September 9, 2022.
Both of the Capitols home preseason games will take place in Middleton at Bob Suter's LEGACY20 Arena. Friday's home game against Cedar Rapids has a 6:05 p.m. puck drop with Saturday's road game taking place at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for the home game will be available at the door for $5.
The games against the RoughRiders will both be streamed live on the Capitols Audio Network on YouTube. Saturday's game on the road will be broadcast on FloHockey with the voice of the Capitols, Drew Steele, broadcasting on the away feed. Pregame for each game will commence ten minutes before puck drop.
