Wisconsin Capitols

{{Pro hockey team |bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#e40204 5px solid; border-bottom:#040204 5px solid; |text_color = #000000 |team = |logo = |logo_size = 200px |city = Madison, Wisconsin |league = United States Hockey League |conference = |founded = 1984 |folded = 1995 |arena = Hartmeyer Ice Arena |colors = Red, black and white {{color box|#e40204}} {{color box|#040204}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} |owner = |president = |gm = |coach = |captain = |media =  | name1 = Madison Capitols | dates1 = 1984–1991 | name2 = '''Wisconsin Capitols''' | dates2 = 1991–1995 | name3 = | dates3 =  | reg_season_titles = | championships = }}

The '''Wisconsin Capitols''' were a Tier I junior ice hockey team that played in the United States Hockey League.

== History == === Early history (1984–1991) === The Madison Capitols began as a team in 1984, competing in the USHL, and played for 11 consecutive seasons.<ref name="ushl.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=2148 |title=United States Hockey League - Madison Capitols Begin New Era in USHL |access-date=2014-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409054117/http://ushl.com/news.php?news_id=2148 |archive-date=2014-04-09 }}</ref> During this period, the Capitols played home games at the Hartmeyer Ice Arena, posting a 207–278–16 record, playing a total of 530 games.<ref name="hockeydb.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/wisconsin-capitols-6710.html|title=Wisconsin Capitols hockey team statistics and history at hockeydb.com}}</ref>

The team was coached by Bob Suter from 1984 to 1986, posting a 35–48–3–10 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=7501|title=Bob Suter Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref> Following what was a mild start to the franchise, Scott Owens took over coaching duties in 1986 and started a winning franchise, posting a 136–85–9–10 record through 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=34332|title=Scott Owens Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref> Owens would then move on to coach the Des Moines Buccaneers and Colorado College, ending the first era of the Madison Capitols.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

=== Wisconsin Capitols (1991–1995) === With the departure of Owens, the Madison Capitols re-branded themselves as the Wisconsin Capitols in 1991. Steve Huglen, a University of Illinois Defensemen, was hired as head coach for the 1991–1992 campaign and the Capitols intended to continue their winning record; however, under Huglen the team posted an 11–37–0 season.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The 1992–93 campaign saw the departure of Huglen, and the addition of Mike Dibble as head coach. After the team posted a 2–21–2 record Dibble was replaced by Rob Andriga mid-season, who would coach the Capitols to a 4–19–1 record, finishing at 6–39–2–1 season record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=8549|title=Mike Dibble Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorhockey/roster/t-11227/y-1992|title=1992 Wisconsin Capitols minor league hockey Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=17625|title=Rob Andringa Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref>

In the 1993–94 season, Andringa was still coaching the Wisconsin Capitols, along with the additions of Don Granato, and Brian Duffy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=6965|title=Don Granato Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref><ref name="hockeydb.com1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=69716|title=Brian Duffy Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref> The Capitols would post a 9–37–1–3 record this season, second to their worst.<ref name="hockeydb.com"/> The era of the Wisconsin Capitols and, for the time being, USHL hockey in Madison was close to an end.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The final season of the Capitols in Madison in 1994–95, saw the return of Duffy, who would post a 3–8–0<ref name="hockeydb.com1"/> record as head coach. The replacement coach, Len Semplice would finish the season with a 7–29–1 record, totaling a team season record of 10–37–1.<ref name="hockeydb.com2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?encode=TRUE&pid=69733|title=Len Semplice Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}</ref>

==Season-by-season record== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=1000 !Season !!GP !!W !!L !!OTL !!Pts !!GF !!GA !!Finish !! Playoffs |- align="center" |style="color:white; background:#c42624; {{box-shadow border|a|#040204|2px}}" colspan="11"|'''Madison Capitols''' |- | 1984–85 || 48 || 15 || 30 || 1 || 2 || '''33''' || 217 || 277 ||8th of 10, USHL||''Missing information'' |-bgcolor=f0f0f0 | 1985–86 || 48 || 20 || 18 || 2 || 8 || '''50''' || 240 || 258 ||5th of 9, USHL||''Missing information'' |- | 1986–87 || 48 || 33 || 14 || 0 || 1 || '''67''' || 282 || 205 ||3rd of 10, USHL||''Missing information'' |-bgcolor=f0f0f0 | 1987–88 || 48 || 24 || 22 || 0 || 2 || '''50''' || 256 || 231 ||5th of 10, USHL||''Missing information'' |- | 1988–89 || 48 || 33 || 10 || 3 || 2 || '''71''' || 316 || 211 ||3rd of 10, USHL||''Missing information'' |-bgcolor=f0f0f0 | 1989–90 || 48 || 25 || 16 || 2 || 5 || '''57''' || 220 || 201 ||5th of 10, USHL||'''Won''' Quarterfinal series, 3–0 (Sioux City Musketeers) Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (Omaha Lancers) |- | 1990–91 || 48 || 21 || 23 || 4 || 0 || '''49''' || 163 || 197 ||5th of 10, USHL||Lost Quarterfinal series, 2–3 (St. Paul Vulcans) |- align="center" |style="color:white; background:#e40204; {{box-shadow border|a|#040204|2px}}" colspan="11"|'''Wisconsin Capitols''' |-bgcolor=f0f0f0 | 1991–92 || 48 || 11 || 37 || 0 || 0 || '''26''' || 182 || 291 ||10th of 10, USHL||''Did not qualify'' |- | 1992–93 || 48 || 6 || 39 || 2 || 1 || '''15''' || 135 || 273 ||10th of 10, USHL||''Did not qualify'' |-bgcolor=f0f0f0 | 1993–94 || 48 || 9 || 35 || 1 || 3 || '''22''' || 128 || 252 ||9th of 10, USHL||''Did not qualify'' |- | 1994–95 || 48 || 10 || 32 || 1 || 5 || '''26''' || 145 || 245 ||10th of 11, USHL||''Did not qualify'' |}

== Personnel == ===NHL alumni=== *Alex Brooks, 1993-94<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Brooks - Stats, Contract, Salary & More |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/10257/alex-brooks |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.eliteprospects.com |language=en}}</ref> *John Byce, 1985-86 *Don Granato, 1985-87<ref>{{Cite web |title=Don Granato at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/6938/don-granato |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.eliteprospects.com |language=en}}</ref> *Mark Osiecki, 1986-87<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Osiecki at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/1840/mark-osiecki |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.eliteprospects.com |language=en}}</ref> *Derek Plante, 1989–90<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=1950 |title=United States Hockey League - USHL Awards Member Club to Madison, Wisconsin |access-date=2014-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904092902/http://web.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=1950 |archive-date=2014-09-04 }}</ref> *Brian Rafalski, 1990–91

=== Awards and player recognition === *Scott Owens – USHL General Manager of the Year, 1986–87 *Scott Owens – USHL Coach of the Year, 1987–88<ref name="madcapshockey.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.madcapshockey.com/page/show/1075088-team-history|title=Team History|access-date=2025-06-18|archive-date=2015-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315014350/http://www.madcapshockey.com/page/show/1075088-team-history|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Joe Harwell – 1988-89 All-USHL 1st Team *Forrest Karr – 1994-95 All-USHL 2nd Team

== References == {{reflist|50em}}

== External links == * [https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/wisconsin-capitols-6710.html Hockey DB] * [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/6102/wisconsin-capitols Elite Prospects]

Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Wisconsin Category:Defunct United States Hockey League teams Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1991 Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1995 Category:1991 establishments in Wisconsin Category:1995 disestablishments in Wisconsin