The Madison Capitols were victorious in a 2-0 road win against the Youngstown Phantoms in the only game around the United States Hockey League (USHL) on Thursday.
 

Eero Butella scored his first goal with Madison on one of the Capitols’ first chances of the night, a one-timer from between the circles at 6:59 of the first period. Later in the second period, Villie Vaarala’s shot from the left-wing side beat Phantoms goalie Tobias Trejbal to extend Madison’s lead to 2-0.
 

Youngstown pressed on the game’s only power play late in the third, but Cash Cruitt held strong in net. Cruitt, a Quinnipiac commit, made 27 saves in his first USHL shutout.
 

Three Stars
 

1st Star: Cash Cruitt, G, Madison Capitols

27-Save Shutout
 

2nd Star: Eero Butella, F, Madison Capitols

Game-Winning Goal, 1 Shot, +1
 

3rd Star: Villie Vaarala, F, Madison Capitols

1 Goal, 1 Shot, +1
 

About the USHL
 

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
 

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).