Incoming UND Goalie Wins Award

(UND Sports Information) – GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Incoming freshman goaltender Caleb Heil was named the 2025-26 Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year by USA Hockey on Wednesday.

Heil is one of 13 deserving individuals that will be recognized at USA Hockey’s President’s Awards Dinner on Friday, June 5 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. He is the second UND player to earn the honor – joining Zach Driscoll in 2017-18.

Heil was one of the nation’s top goaltenders during the 2025-26 season, starring for both the United States Hockey League’s Madison Capitols, as well as the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Victoria, Minn., native posted a 2.34 goals-against average and .905 save percentage across 41 regular-season appearances for Madison. His goals-against average ranked third in the USHL and was the best mark among American goaltenders. He also finished tied for third in the league with three shutouts, while his 24-13-3 (W-L-OTL) record helped lift the Capitols to a Clark Cup playoff berth. He was named USHL Goaltender of the Week four times during the regular season.

He elevated his play in the postseason, backstopping Madison to the USHL Eastern Conference Finals while posting a 7-4-0 (W-L-OTL) record, a league-best .944 save percentage, and a 1.95 goals-against average that ranked second among qualified playoff goaltenders. His postseason run was highlighted by a 40-save shutout in an overtime victory over the Youngstown Phantoms in the second round.

On the international stage, Heil represented Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota, where he recorded a team-best two victories in two starts.

Heil was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning and will join North Dakota for the 2026-27 season.