Green Bay Notre Dame's Sam Kappell is drafted No. 1 overall in USHL draft, showing growing respect for area hockey
GREEN BAY – If it wasn’t clear a few years ago, it might be now: The hockey world has started to show serious respect to northeastern Wisconsin.
Sam Kappell became the latest example Tuesday when the Green Bay Notre Dame sophomore forward was selected by the Madison Capitols with the first overall pick in Phase I of the United States Hockey League draft.
The Appleton native is the second local player to be selected with the top pick, following in the footsteps of former Bay Port student Quinn Finley in 2020.
“It was very exciting for me, just knowing that all the work I’ve put in the past all the way since I started playing is really starting to pay off,” Kappell said. “It’s a great opportunity for me, I think, to be able to be drafted by a program like Madison and excited for the future and what I can get out of it.”
Finley never played hockey for Bay Port, instead moving to the USHL in 2020-21.
The University of Wisconsin commit has played for both Madison and the Chicago Steel the past three seasons and was selected by the New York Islanders in the third round of the NHL draft in 2022.
The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Kappell will get his turn at some point, although he could return to Notre Dame for his junior season.
Phase I of the draft identifies players from a certain birth year, which was 2007 this year. Most of the players generally are a couple of years away from playing in the USHL.
Either way, Kappell’s memorable day was another big accomplishment for local hockey.
“I think there is a really positive testament to what’s going on for development of players in this area and what these players potentially accomplish as they keep doing their thing and growing and maturing as a player,” said Notre Dame coach Cory McCracken, who led the Tritons to an undefeated 28-0 season and the WIAA Division 1 state title in 2022-23. “But, yeah, it speaks volumes of what is going on in our state locally.”
Kappell had decorated season for the Tritons
Kappell had a decorated debut with the Tritons last season after growing up playing for the Green Bay Junior Gamblers.
He had 34 goals and 23 assists, saving one of his best games for last when he became the first player this century to record five points in a state championship game after finishing with a hat trick and two assists in an 8-2 win over Verona in March.
Kappell registered at least one goal in 21 of 28 games, including all five games in tournament play, and had four hat tricks. He was named a second-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association.
He picked up where he left off with the Tritons when he played for the Team Wisconsin 15U AAA team after the prep season.
“He understands how to take things quickly and apply them in the game,” McCracken said. “He also understands his identity is what he is. He knows that’s a super important part to be consistent with. He’s a kid that likes puck touches in scoring areas in traffic. He’s a kid that always has scored at every level, and it hasn’t stopped for him. He’s just added other layers to his game that are as important for him as he continues to develop, but he hasn’t lost his identity as to what he is good at as a player.”
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Kappell believed he had a chance to be selected No. 1 overall after conversations with new Madison coach and general manager Andy Brandt, who was hired by the organization Monday after spending last season as an assistant for the Badgers.
The Capitols are coming off a rough 17-41-2-2 season, just one year removed from playing in the Clark Cup Finals and setting a franchise record for the most wins in the regular season.
They have had seven players selected in the NHL draft since 2014.
“I have a lot of trust in him, and I think he’s going to be a great coach there,” Kappell said of Brandt.
Kappell has been playing hockey since he was a young child.
Nobody on either side of his family has a background in the game. But his parents both attended the University of Minnesota, and both started to learn more about hockey over time and enjoyed watching it.
Kappell didn’t like the game early, but he eventually started to appreciate it. It has become his true love over soccer, which he played until he was 13.
His career continues to blossom, and after winning a state championship with the Tritons, it appears he made a wise move to play at Notre Dame.
“Seeing some of the success they’ve had in the past was for sure a big part of it,” Kappell said. “And knowing that I have a lot of the trust in the coaches, especially Cory. I know they can help me develop and bring everything out of me to become the best I can.”
Coghlin drafted in Phase II
Notre Dame junior forward Joseph Coghlin, the son of longtime St. Norbert College men’s hockey coach Tim Coghlin, was selected by the Lincoln Stars in the 17th round of the Phase II draft Wednesday.
Phase II of the draft is open to players of all ages who are eligible to play junior hockey and aren’t on a protected USHL roster. Most will have an opportunity to make an impact and fill needs for USHL teams next season if they make the final cut.
The 6-1, 185-pound Coghlin had 21 goals and 15 assists for the Tritons last season. He scored two goals in a state semifinal against University School of Milwaukee and had an assist against Verona in the title game.
“Joseph is a big body power forward,” McCracken said. “His playing style fits well in the Western Conference. When he is at his best, Joseph is interior and hard to play against. His game continues to mature year over year. Has a knack to score in big situations. To have success in Lincoln’s main camp, he will need to play to that identity consistently.
“Highly competitive. Heavy on the wall and a 200-foot game. Joseph can use this as a springboard to have a great senior year.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Notre Dame's Sam Kappell is No. 1 overall pick in USHL draft
