Congratulations on the great start to your season.  Thank you.

What’s driving this early season success?  It started with the development of the kids six years ago, plus a talented group of kids from southeast Wisconsin joined us.  

Where are your players from?  We have 16 skaters and two goalies and all but one are from Wisconsin.  Most of the kids are from the Madison area but we have a group of kids from southeastern Wisconsin also.

How many years have you coached?  With the Capitols for over six seasons, and I also helped Olie (Eric Olson) for five seasons at Waunakee High School.  I’ve coached at each age level.  As a coach I need to evolve and grow every day just as the players do. Coaching the younger kids is about developing players not about wins/losses. You want to see at the end of the season that the players improved. 

What drew you into coaching?  After playing pro, I knew more about hockey than anything else.  I wanted to stay involved with the game even though I went into the construction business.  For me, I was always a student of the game, I had to be at 5’7”.  I felt I had knowledge, plus I love the game, so coaching is a way to share what I know and help players.   

Who were your mentors?  I was lucky to have Tony Scheid when I was starting out in Sun Prairie. I wouldn’t have gone as far as I did without Tony.  Mark Osiecki at Green Bay.  The biggest jump was from high school to the USHL.  Osiecki was tough, but in a good way.  Scott Sandelin at UMD is a great coach. One of the best.  Steve Rohlik was an assistant at UMD back then.    

How old were you when you started playing?  My dad got me in skates when I started walking!  My brother was already playing, my dad plays hockey, so it was just what we do, and I started playing.  

Where did you play youth hockey?  At Sun Prairie up to 7th grade, then 7th and 8th grade for the Capitols.  I returned to Sun Prairie and played high school 9th through 11th grades.  In 11th grade I played pre/post with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL.  Team Wisconsin hadn’t started yet, as you know since you started TW, so I played in the USHL pre/post. 

You were on Sun Prairie’s 1997 WIAA championship team?  Yes, we won the state championship my sophomore year.  We had a big group of seniors that year.  Great memories!  Sun Prairie had some great teams and a lot of talent in the 1980’s and into late 90’s.  

What are your favorite memories as a player?  That’s tough, I have a lot of great memories.  Probably getting to the Frozen 4 (Minnesota Duluth 2004).  I was sold on UMD when the coaches told me you are coming here to change the culture. I am proud to know that our group laid the foundation for the success that came after us.  Sandelin (Coach Sandelin) was new, the program had great history but was down, and we created a winning culture.   

What was it like playing pro hockey?  It was fun.  Hanging out with the guys, the locker room are things you remember.  I love the game, and I wanted to keep playing.  I knew I was never going to make the NHL, and I had to get a real job someday but stayed in pro hockey as long as I could.  People say you retired from professional hockey.  I tell them Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter retire.  Minor leaguers stop playing and get a job!

Is Joe Pavelski your assistant coach this season?  Pavs (Joe Pavelski) is not my assistant!  We just coach, no titles of head or assistant.  I am smart enough to let him help.  I hand him a whistle and he does his thing.  He brings so much experience and knowledge.  Our kids get access to more hockey wisdom with Pavs around.

Are there any other great former players helping you?  I am so fortunate.  We have such a deep group of high knowledge people around Madison and in the Caps organization.  I tie my skates for practice and Brandt (Andy Brandt USHL head coach) and Tom Gilbert (USHL assistant coach) are in the room and I bounce ideas off.  Plus, Robbie Earl, Andrew Joudrey are here, Brian Elliott, Shane Connelly, Dominic Zombo and Ryan Galt.  Most places don’t have that.  We are lucky.   

What is your full-time job?  My company builds hotels and rental properties. We are building a new rink in De Forest that will open in September 2025.  The rink will be the new home of the Madison Capitols girls’ program.   

What advice do you have for young players that want to play after high school?  Compete and work every day.  You need to be all in.  There are a lot more players than roster spots. You need to be able to deal with adversity…it is a long route.    It’s not easy, the players on USHL teams were the best on their high school or midget team.

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Best wishes to Luke Stauffacher and his Madison Capitols U14 team!

Yours for hockey, Matt Carey  

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https://www.wisconsinprephockey.net/news_article/show/1294540
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