Caleb Heil, the Madison Capitols' net‑minder and a key figure for Team USA, has been selected as the recipient of USA Hockey's Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year Award for the 2025‑26 season, a recognition that underscores his exceptional play and leadership on the ice.
Award Background
The accolade is named after Dave Peterson, a legendary coach who guided the U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Teams in 1988 and 1992, and it celebrates goaltenders who combine statistical excellence with character and teamwork.
Heil posted a .933 save percentage across four games at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge and followed that with two victories in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, numbers that helped cement his reputation as a clutch performer.
Over the past two seasons he has been the undisputed starter for the Madison Capitols, guiding the club to the USHL Eastern Conference Finals and catching the eye of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who drafted him in the 2025 draft and invited him to a preseason appearance.
Path Forward
Beyond his on‑ice achievements, Heil is noted for his quiet confidence, low‑maintenance work ethic and cerebral approach to the game, traits that have earned praise from his goaltending coach, Shane Connelly, who describes him as a daily example of dedication and improvement.
Next fall, Heil will enroll at the University of North Dakota, where he will continue to develop while remaining under the Tampa Bay Lightning's developmental umbrella, a move that aligns with his long‑term goal of competing at the highest levels of professional hockey.
He will be honored at the USA Hockey President’s Awards Dinner in Denver on June 5, an event that will bring together teammates, coaches and fans to celebrate his contributions to the sport and his promising future.