Played on Nov 14, 2025
Game Played in Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena
General Game Notes: Friday, November 14, 2025 — Madison Capitols hosted the Muskegon Lumberjacks in what turned out to be an evenly matched game. After battling to a 2–2 tie through 60 minutes, neither team could break the deadlock in overtime. The game went to a shootout, where Muskegon’s #17 Rudolfs Berzkalns scored the deciding goal to secure the win for the Lumberjacks.
Caleb Heil (G, L, 6’2″, 196, Madison Capitols, 06/17/2006, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
Caleb Heil showcased exceptional composure and confidence between the pipes, exuding an aura of calmness even under intense pressure. His compact playing style allowed him to stay focused on the puck, minimizing rebounds by keeping his body positioned tightly and hands close. He navigated through traffic with ease, positioning himself square to the puck and fighting through bodies in front to make crucial saves. Heil’s patience and ability to find the puck in chaotic situations were key assets. Furthermore, he demonstrated smooth post-to-post movement, effectively utilizing the RVH technique to seal off the bottom of the net, making him a formidable presence in goal.
1 Viewing
Comments: Caleb Heil has good size and plays with a calm, poised demeanor that gives confidence to his team. He doesn’t over-commit on plays; instead, he stays patient and lets the puck come to him, making difficult saves look routine. His movement is controlled, and his slightly narrower stance allows him to stay upright laterally, keeping him available on shots and maintaining strong positioning across the crease. Heil tracks pucks well and shows solid rebound control, limiting second-chance opportunities. In scramble situations, he can lean on his athleticism and compete level, battling to stay in the play when things break down. He showed that in the first period, making a glove save from the seat of his pants—sticking with the play and coming up with a huge stop.
Nolen Geerdes (D, L, 5’11”, 177, Madison Capitols, 04/30/2007, Western Michigan)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Nolen Geerdes is a smooth, poised defenseman who skates well and thinks the game at a high level. He moves the puck efficiently in transition, using his edge work and composure to escape pressure and make clean outlets. With the puck, he shows confidence jumping into plays and distributing to dangerous areas, providing steady offense from the blue line. Defensively, Geerdes relies on good gaps, smart positioning, and an active stick to stay tight on attackers. He reads developing plays early and angles opponents into less threatening areas, defending with detail rather than pure physicality. Shift to shift, he stays involved, using his mobility and awareness to stay connected on both sides of the puck. Although he didn’t contribute on the score-sheet, he was a valuable presence every time he was on the ice.
Caleb Pittsley (RW, R, 6’1″, 181, Madison Capitols, 11/16/2007, Augustana)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Pittsley is the type of player who is heavy on pucks and doesn’t quit on plays. He battles for loose pucks in all three zones and is determined to win them, often extending possessions through sheer effort. When he builds momentum, he moves well and protects the puck effectively, using his frame to shield defenders. He isn’t afraid to lean on opponents and drive to the net, playing a prototypical power-forward style. His competitiveness and willingness to engage physically allow him to make an impact even when he’s not on the scoresheet.
Michael Tang (RW, R, 6’0″, 166, Madison Capitols, 04/15/2009, Harvard)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Tang scored the second goal of the game by sneaking behind defenders in a 5-on-5 situation. He collected the puck and, without wasting a moment, spun around and tucked it five-hole, showing off his quick release and hockey IQ by catching everyone off guard. He also made several plays throughout the game that highlighted his skill set, including nifty slip plays in tight and excellent vision to find teammates in dangerous areas.
Gavin Uhlenkamp (RW, R, 5’7″, 171, Madison Capitols, 03/27/2006, Wisconsin)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Uhlenkamp’s first step is impressive — he beats opponents off the hop, and once he’s moving, he’s hard to catch. In OT, he consistently created chances simply because defenders couldn’t keep up with him. He wheeled the zone, shook off his man-to-man coverage, and got pucks to the net. His speed alone causes problems, especially in open-ice situations where he can attack with pace and force defenders onto their heels.
Jackson Nevers (C, R, 6’0″, 202, Madison Capitols, 07/27/2005, Minnesota)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jackson Nevers is a straight-forward, hard-playing forward who uses his physicality to create space for himself and his linemates. He opened the scoring with a strong goal, cutting to the middle at full speed without the puck, receiving a pass in his skates, quickly bringing it to his stick, and firing a precise shot to the far post. The play showcased his ability to execute a skilled move at full speed while staying composed and in control. Nevers is most impressive for his complete, two-way game. He defends responsibly, back-checks with purpose, and leverages his size to win physical battles. He leads by example on every shift, making it clear why he serves as team captain.
Jet Kwajah (D, R, 5’11”, 177, Madison Capitols, 03/25/2008, Penn State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jet?Kwajah is a mobile, composed right-shot defenseman who reads the game well and makes smart plays under pressure. He moves the puck confidently in transition, delivering clean first passes and stepping into the offensive zone when opportunities arise. Defensively, he uses his mobility, gap control, and awareness to stay competitive and break up plays. On every shift, he works hard at both ends, showing a high motor and strong involvement in the play. His combination of offensive instincts and reliable two-way play makes him a versatile defenseman who can contribute in all situations.
Carl Axelsson (G, L, 6’3″, 184, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 11/21/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Axelsson is a big, composed goaltender who makes difficult saves look routine. He stays on his feet as long as he can to track plays, read shooters, and get across to passes while staying square. He made several important saves in the slot by staying compact and letting his positioning do the work, giving him the ability to control rebounds and be ready for the second shot. He read plays well throughout the game, often anticipating where the puck was going and getting into position early, displaying his high hockey IQ. And when he lost sight of the puck, his size and structure helped him seal space and stay controlled in traffic – which is necessary to rely on at times a goaltender. In overtime he came up with big save after big save, ultimately securing his team the extra points.
Danny Klaers (D, R, 5’11”, 187, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 04/01/2007, Notre Dame)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Danny Klaers is a composed, mobile defenseman who plays with poise and intelligence. He moves his feet well — his skating and edge work allow him to close gaps, defend effectively, and transition with control. He’s not just a defender; he’s a playmaker from the back end. With the puck, he shows excellent vision and passing ability. He reads the ice carefully and makes clean, accurate breakout passes, helping his team exit the zone smoothly. He can catch opponents off guard with occasional long stretch passes, but also has the ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone when needed. Defensively, Klaers uses his hockey IQ to shut down plays and relies on his skating to close gaps. While he handles the puck well, his time with it can sometimes limit his overall defensive coverage.
Carter Sanderson (C, L, 6’1″, 196, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 09/12/2007, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
The player has a strong skillset that is well-suited for playing a physical, defensive-minded role on the ice. He uses his body effectively to win battles for pucks and maintain good positioning in front of the net. When attacking the points, he is able to quickly reset and reposition himself after losing possession, showing good awareness and anticipation. He consistently makes smart decisions and stays engaged throughout shifts. His physicality and intensity are notable assets, adding a spark to every shift.
1 Viewing
Comments: Sanderson is a reliable, straight-line forward who plays a detailed, heavy 200-foot game. He competes hard on every shift, using his size and strength to win battles and create space for himself and his linemates. Sanderson plays with purpose, getting above pucks, applying pressure on the forecheck, and staying connected defensively. His game is built on predictability and effort — he consistently makes the right reads and puts himself in the right spots. With the puck, he shows composure and strong decision-making. He supports plays well, keeps pucks moving, and can drive possession by hanging onto the puck rather than defaulting to quick dump-ins. He showed flashes of offensive touch, especially when he played with pace and used his frame to protect pucks. He consistently moved his feet, allowing him to get to scoring areas and release pucks in stride. He scored a tricky goal from the side of the net, catching the goaltender off guard with an off-angle shot.
Jack Christ (LW, L, 5’9″, 178, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 12/22/2005, Minnesota State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Christ plays with pace. He challenges defenders off the rush, using his speed and ability to shoot in stride. He has a deceptive release with plenty of power behind it — for example, he skated onto a loose puck from a side angle and, while in motion, ripped a bullet short-side, beating the goaltender cleanly. Throughout the game, he consistently put himself in scoring positions, finding soft areas where pucks tend to arrive and getting them on net quickly.
Melvin Novotny (LW, L, 6’2″, 194, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 04/03/2007, UMass Amherst)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Novotny plays with pace both with and without the puck. He uses his edge work, skating ability, and stick-handling to control the puck and create space for himself. He showed strong vision, moving pucks to dangerous areas, especially on the rush, finding trailers or teammates driving to the net. He can make plays in stride, keeping the game flowing, and is capable of quick, decisive shots when the opportunity arises. His combination of grit, competitiveness, and skill makes him difficult to defend, as he can impact the game in multiple ways. He consistently engages on the forecheck, battles along the boards, and is willing to get involved physically when needed. In the first period, he delivered a big open-ice hit that shifted momentum, showing his ability to play physical while maintaining his skill and awareness.
Jake Stuart (F, L, 5’10”, 169, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 01/08/2007, Denver)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Stuart works hard and plays with pace. He moves his feet well, consistently getting into positions to generate shots on goal. On the forecheck, he pressures opponents, chips pucks in, and plays with purpose, knowing where to place the puck and how to retrieve it. He shows a strong hockey IQ, reads the game well, and consistently creates turnovers, using smart decisions to keep plays alive and support his teammates.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images