When the Madison Capitols signed Stephen Cover to a USHL tender earlier this spring, they added one of the most promising young forwards in American youth hockey.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-shot forward from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, arrives in Madison following two standout seasons with the prestigious Mount St. Charles program. In his most recent campaign with the 15U squad, Cover piled up an eye-popping 46 goals and 114 points on a national championship-winning roster.
Those numbers were a reflection of consistency, leadership, and a physical style of play that has made him one of the top 2009-born players in the country.
At just 16 years old, Cover has already built a reputation as a hard-working, two-way forward that is reliable on both sides of the puck. He really thrives in the offensive zone as a powerful winger, though he still considers himself a natural centerman.
“I actually like playing down the middle more,” Cover told PuckPreps. “I kind of like exiting the zone with speed more when you're lower, so I kind of like that better, but I think I’m better at wing.”
His offensive instincts, combined with a heavy shot and a nose for the net, make him especially dangerous below the dots and in the lower slot, areas he has learned to dominate through positioning and a strong hockey IQ.
Between his 14U and 15U seasons, Cover focused heavily on his skating and physical conditioning, and the results were evident. That growth not only helped elevate his own game, but also played a crucial role in Mount St. Charles’ run through Regionals and into Nationals.
That success then led right into signing with the Madison Capitols. However, Cover’s relationship with Madison began much earlier. Nearly a year before signing, he attended the Capitols’ development camp as an underage player and turned heads with his performance.
Madison kept a close eye on him throughout the season and was front and center when Mount played at Nationals, ironically held on the Capitols’ home ice in Wisconsin.
“After Nationals were over, [Madison] called me in and offered me the tender and I took it,” said Cover. “I'm super excited for next year.”
The symbolism of playing the biggest youth tournament of his career on the very rink he will now call home isn’t lost on him. But what truly drew him to Madison was the organization’s commitment to player development.
“The coaching staff there is unbelievable,” Cover said, notably pointing to head coach Andy Brandt, associate head coach Tom Gilbert, and director of scouting Justin Friedman. “They are huge in developing players and making good players even better.”
The city itself also left a strong impression. Visits to Madison sealed the off-ice fit, and the warm welcome from future teammates only reinforced that this was the right move.
This past weekend, Cover returned to Madison’s development camp, this time as an official member of the roster. The experience gave him a valuable opportunity to get comfortable in his new environment and start building chemistry with his future teammates.
“I thought I adjusted well,” Cover said on camp as a whole. “I got to meet a couple other guys on the team and get to know them a little bit better, so I thought it was good.”
As he begins this next chapter in the USHL, another major decision looms in his NCAA future.
Cover’s play has caught the attention of several Division I programs, including Penn State and Providence. He has already visited a few campuses and continues to keep communication lines open. However, despite the attention from high-profile programs, he’s not rushing a decision.
“My mind is not made up yet,” he said. “So, I'm still kind of keeping all the doors open and just seeing what schools want me the most and what fit is best for me and my family.”
With the NCAA recruiting schedule set to ramp up in the coming weeks, Cover expects to begin narrowing his options soon.