Capitols Host Muskegon for First Meeting Since Eastern Conference Finals
October 27, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Madison Capitols News Release
The Capitols return to the ice at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena this weekend with the team hosting Muskegon. It will be the first matchups against Muskegon since the Capitols beat the Lumberjacks to advance to the Clark Cup Finals in the playoffs last season.
Madison’s first games at home since the three-game home stand at the end of September and beginning of October come following a weekend off. Head Coach and General Manager Corey Leivermann and staff decided that the team would use the weekend off from games as a weekend away from the arena. “We let them have the weekend off to recoop. Not many weekends that you get off in the USHL schedule, so I think it was a well needed break for our team. Then, we’re right back at it again this weekend against Muskegon. Take some time, recoop, go see your parents and family and then come back and get back to work, which we did on Monday.”
Prior to the weekend off, the Capitols had won four of their last five matchups, all against Eastern Conference opponents. Madison starts a stretch of five of the next seven games being played at home in Middleton. Tied with the Lumberjacks in points on the season, Leivermann and company know that Muskegon coming to town will be a good test for his team.
“They’re a very talented team. They have got some very good pieces back in [Jake] Richard, [Owen] Mehlenbacher, and a good pickup in [Jack] Reimann. I really like their d-core. Gavin McCarthy is a very talented hockey player. With Dunbar and McBrayer, their d-core is good. I think for us, I think it’s going to be a good challenge to see where we fit. We’ve had a good stretch here, but again, it’s a long year. I want to see if we can build off of our success that we had coming out of the showcase.”
Capitols leading scorer Miko Matikka comes into the weekend with ten points on the season, which ranks in a tie for tenth in the league. Matikka has a home goal scoring streak of three games putting one in the back of the net during every home game to date this season.
After a rough start in Pittsburgh for Mason Kucenski, he has been red hot as of late. Kucenski and the Capitols have won the goaltender’s last four starts. During that span, Kucenski’s goals against average improved by over a goal per game.
Madison added center depth over the week by trading for Andrew Kuzma. Kuzma joins the team after starting the season with Des Moines. He tallied six points in 58 games played last season. Kuzma will wear number 13 with the team.
Puck drop is scheduled on both Friday and Saturday night for 7:05 pm. To come out and join the action at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena, tickets are available at tickets.madcapshockey.com.
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