Played on Feb 23, 2025
United States Hockey League
Game Played in Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena
General Game Notes: Neutral Zone scouted this Sunday afternoon USHL matchup between the red-hot Madison Capitols and the visiting Fargo Force. The home side jumped out to an early lead with two quick goals from Sam Kappell and star player Ryker Lee. Fargo answered midway through the first to keep the game from getting away from them. However, Madison dominated most of the play the second en route to two more goals and a 4-1 lead. A lackluster third period made it another convincing win for Madison as they fight for the top of the table, while Fargo continues to fight to hold onto a playoff spot.
Finn McLaughlin (D, L, 6’1″, 185, Fargo Force, 02/28/2006, Denver)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Finn McLaughlin is a talented, two-way defenseman for Fargo. The 2006-born Denver commit is rated by Central Scouting. The tall, athletic blueliner show good mobility tonight. He can read the oncoming forwards, then turn and cutoff the offensive rush. He uses his size to squeeze opponents along the boards. On offense, McLaughlin took puck up ice and slice through the Capitols forwards who were trying to stop him. He made another nice offensive play later, taking the puck into the attack zone, then executing a sideways turn and pass to fool the opponent marking him and create a scoring chance. McLaughlin is a mobile defenseman who is adept at both ends of the ice.
Hayes Hundley (D, R, 6’3″, 208, Fargo Force, 03/22/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Hayes Hundley is an offensive-minded defenseman for Fargo. The 2005-born blueliner looks dangerous with the puck on offense. When on the perimeter, Hundley moves the puck efficiently. He makes quick one-time passes that are on target. Closer to the net, he will try and work or dodge his way to get a shot. He showed the willingness and ability to fire the puck on net from sharp angles. Hundley is well-built with a muscular frame, but he was not very engaged physical on defense. Granted, the Force defense as a whole struggled tonight, but it would be better to see Hundley more involved and active in the Fargo end in the future. Hundley is an uncommitted defenseman who was looking to make a play on offense. He managed to trouble the Madison defense at times tonight.
Ryan Zaremba (C, L, 5’9″, 180, Fargo Force, 03/30/2006, Minnesota State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Ryan Zaremba is a mobile, busy forward for Fargo. The 2006-born Minnesota-Duluth commit is slight and lanky but does not lack energy, and does not get slowed down by contact. Zaremba hustles end to end, although he could not break away from the coverage. Playing Center, he had a mixed bag of success with his faceoffs and finished around 50%. He did well to uses his edges and speed to circle with possession. Zaremba can really whirlwind around the offensive zone with the puck, holding possession and keeping out of reach. However, he was unable to really generate chances off of his motion. Zaremba is a developing forward for Fargo with the viewer-friendly, busy style of play.
Merril Steenari (RW, R, 5’10”, 179, Fargo Force, 01/18/2004, Colorado College)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Merril Steenari is a Center for Fargo who had mixed results tonight, but came away with his team’s only goal. The aging-out Colorado College commit is a north-south skater who showed some straight-line-speed. He goes end to end with noticeable pace. However, he struggled with traffic at times, canceling out any speed advantage. Steenari scored in the first to answer Madison’s early tallies. He flipped a shot over the Capitols’ crouching goalie. Playing Center, he did well at the faceoff circle, winning most of his draws convincingly tonight.
Elias Zimmerman (C, L, 6’6″, 218, Fargo Force, 08/08/2005, UMass Amherst)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Elias Zimmerman is a tall, determined Center for Fargo. The 2005-born UMass commit had an up and down game. He made a big play earlier on, creating an offensive zone turnover. Zimmerman robed a smaller Madison player behind their net when he caught the opponent handling the puck too loosely. Zimmerman turned it into a quality scoring chance, but to no avail. He struggled with his stickhandling and puck control on offense at times. He is scrappy and willing to fight for the puck, although it seemed he tired early during shifts. Playing Center, Zimmerman won over 50% of his faceoff draws tonight. Zimmerman is a developing forward who made some quality plays here and there. Moving forward he just needs to work on his endurance and be more consistent with his puck control.
Sam Kappell (C, R, 6’1″, 190, Madison Capitols, 02/05/2007, Minnesota State)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Sam Kappell is a young (2007) born forward who made some plays tonight via quick stickwork. Playing Center, he did well with his faceoffs overall, winning the majority of them, including some key offensive draws. The Minnesota State Mankato commit had the opening goal of the game, chipping in a score off of his own offensive zone faceoff win. Kappell moves well in open ice. He goes north-south and laterally via a smooth, calm skating style. He does not engage fully with physical play, but instead opts to use his stick to get himself out of trouble. Along the boards, he will appear suddenly and fish out the puck from a scrum. Kappell is a young, developing Center for Madison who created some of his own chances tonight.
Ryker Lee (RW, R, 6’0″, 182, Madison Capitols, 11/08/2006, Michigan State)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Ryker Lee is an agile winger for Madison who is aggressive on offense. The 2006-born MSU commit is slight and light, and uses his speed and footwork on the attack. He is rate highly by Central Scouting. Tonight he showed some flair, executing a spin shot as the Capitols started to pour on the offense. Lee had an early goal off of good puck movement during a 3-on-1 offensive rush. He got caught later with a high-sticking penalty. He got a little too eager to beat the Fargo defense, getting caught ahead of the rush and way offsides. Ryker Lee is a talented young forward who can score in a flash, and is determined to do so. He is still refining some of his neutral zone game.
Charlie Michaud (D, L, 5’11”, 183, Madison Capitols, 08/12/2006, Miami (Ohio))
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Charlie Michaud is an intelligent defenseman for the Madison Capitols. The 2006-born Miami commit functioned as a shut-down defender tonight. He is a little lanky, and relies on his positioning and stickwork more then physicality. Michaud uses disciplined defensive positioning against oncoming rushes. He angled Fargo’s zone entries into the near boards every time. Michaud plays with his head on a swivel. He made an excellent one-on-one defensive play later on, keeping low and using his stick-reach to stop the Fargo forward dead in his tracks. Michaud is a defensively responsible blueliner who executed his job very well tonight.
Robert Cowan (RW, R, 5’11”, 176, Madison Capitols, 06/12/2006, St. Thomas)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Robert Cowan is a mobile, tough winger for Madison. The 2006-born St Thomas commit is rate by Central Scouting. He is a fast skater who covers a lot of ice. Cowan shows pursuit along the boards. He jumps into traffic willingly to go for the puck, and shows good balance to stay up and moving against contact. Cowan did well to keep Fargo from advancing the puck out of their own end at times. He made a well-placed pass up ice to a streaking #29Johnson for the assist in the second period. Cowan is a determined, scrappy forward who is a well-balanced, efficient skater.
Mason Moe (C, L, 6’1″, 189, Madison Capitols, 03/26/2007, Minnesota)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Mason Moe is a talented Center for Madison who flashed some talent tonight. The 2007-born player is a Gophers commit and is highly rated by Central Scouting. The tall Center has a wiry frame, but showed strength. He made a big shoulder check midway through the game, lifting his opponent off his feet. On the attack, he can turn and move to hold onto possession, keeping his back to opponents. Moe made a beautiful forehand/backhand pass at speed to set up #10Lee for an early goal. He scored himself late: Moe made a stellar individual play, as he twisted and cut to get a shooting lane, firing from one knee to cleanly beat the Fargo goalie. His only struggle tonight was at the faceoff dot, where he lost most of his draws. Moe is a talented forward who stared with some highlight plays tonight.
Landon MacDonald (C, L, 6’2″, 193, Madison Capitols, 08/12/2004, Northern Michigan)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Landon MacDonald is a hard-working forward for Madison. Listed as a Left Wing, he played Center tonight and won just over 50% of his faceoff draws. The aging-out forward has a muscular athletic frame. MacDonald hustles to the corners and is an effective forechecker. He made an almost-highlight offensive play, breaking through traffic via a nice side-step move but missing on his shot. In the third, MacDonald entered the zone with possession and spotted an open teammate cutting across the net front, but sent the pass just out of reach. MacDonald is an uncommitted, aging-out player who did a lot of things right but simply failed to complete some of the potential scoring plays in tonight’s game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images