Madison Capitols ( 2014 ) The Madison Capitols are a Tier I Junior A ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League . Founded in 2014 , the team plays its home games at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison , Wisconsin . The team is owned by Tom Garrity ( Managing Partner ) , Tom Sagissor and Ryan Suter . Luke Strand holds the dual role of Head Coach and General Manager for the team ' s inaugural 2014 – 15 season . History . Start of a Franchise ( 1984 – 91 ) . The Madison Capitols began as a team in 1984 , also competing in the USHL at the time , and played for 11 consecutive seasons . During this time , the Capitols played in the Hartmeyer Ice Arena , posting a 207 - 278 - 16 record , playing a total of 530 games . The team was coached by Bob Suter from 1984 - 1986 , posting a 35 - 48 - 3 - 10 record . 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 . Owens would then move on to coach the Des Moines Buccaneers and Colorado College , thus ending the age of the Madison Capitols . Wisconsin Capitols ( 1991 – 95 ) . With the departure of Owens , the Madison Capitols also re - branded themselves as The Wisconsin Capitols in 1991 . Hiring Steve Huglen as the head coach for the 1991 - 1992 campaign , a University of Illinois Defensemen , the Capitols looked to continue their winning ways . Unfortunately , after posting an 11 - 37 - 0 season , the writing was on the wall . The 1992 - 1993 campaign saw the departure of Huglen , and the addition of Mike Dibble as head coach , who would not last long . The team posted a 2 - 21 - 2 record and 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 . In the 1993 - 1994 season , Duffy was still coaching the Wisconsin Capitols , along with the additions of Don Granato , and Brian Duffy , at the time of writing , individual statistics for each coach throughout the season were not available . The Capitols would post a 9 - 37 - 1 - 3 record this season , second to their worst . The end of the Wisconsin Capitols and USHL hockey in Madison was close to an end . The final season of the Capitols in Madison in 1995 - 1996 , saw the return of Duffy , who would post a 3 - 8 - 0 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 . The Wisconsin Capitols would no longer be a USHL team after this season . Madison Capitols ( 2014 – present ) . On November 26 , 2013 , the management of Madtown Hockey , LLC announced that the Madison Capitols would be returning to Madison in the 2014 - 2015 season . Ryan Suter , defenseman for the Minnesota Wild and Tom Sagissor , a former Wisconsin Badger would join the ownership group . It was also announced that the Madison Capitols would play at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison , WI . On May 22 , 2014 , Eau Claire native Luke Strand was formally introduced as the Madison Capitols head coach and general manager . He was joined on the bench by fellow Eau Claire native Keith Paulsen and longtime NHL veteran and Stanley Cup Champion Tony Hrkac . Following the tragic passing of Bob Suter in September , the Capitols honored the lifelong Madison native and gold medalist with stickers on team helmets , a # 20 banner inside the Coliseum , and the ice rink named in his honor ( Bob Suter Memorial Rink ) . The Capitols began their first season back in the USHL on September 27 , 2014 , a 4 - 3 loss at Muskegon . Sauk City , Wis . native Luke McElhenie scored the first goal in the new era of the Capitols . McElhenie previously played for Bob Suter & the Madison Capitols AAA program . Madison picked up its first victory in its return to the USHL on October 24 , defeating the Sioux Falls Stampede 3 - 1 . Awards . Scott Owens was named the USHL General Manager of the year for the 1986 - 1987 season and USHL Coach of the year for the 1987 - 1988 season . Notable players . Brian Rafalski played for the Madison Capitols during the 1990 – 1991 season , and would go on to play in the NHL for 11 seasons , winning the Stanley Cup three times with the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings . Derek Plante played for the Madison Capitols during the 1989 – 1990 season . and would go on to play in the NHL for 8 seasons , winning the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999 . Notable draft picks . The Madison Capitols have been host to a few NHL players at some point in their career , listed below are all players that have been drafted into the NHL , and had played at some point with the Capitols . Following the Capitols ' return to the USHL in 2014 - 15 , the team acquired defenseman Tyler Nanne from the Sioux Falls Stampede in November . A 2014 draft pick of the New York Rangers , Nanne became the first member of the new edition of the Capitols to have NHL drafted player status .