USHL Madison Capitols

Tom Gilbert and Dominic Zombo to Remain on Coaching Staff

Published on May 9, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


MIDDLETON, Wisc. - The Capitols announced that Tom Gilbert and Dominic Zombo will stay on staff for the 2023-24 season. Gilbert, formerly the team's Interim Head Coach and General Manager, will become the team's Associate Head Coach and Assistant General Manager. Zombo, formerly an Interim Assistant Coach for the team, will stay on as an Assistant Coach.

"I'm excited to keep them both on board," said Capitols Head Coach and General Manager Andy Brandt about the decision to keep both Gilbert and Zombo on staff for the 2023-24 season. "Obviously, you look at what they did the last fourteen games with them being together from a standpoint of record wise. They did a great job of getting guys motivated to play and compete. I want guys to compete. I want guys to care. [Gilbert and Zombo] did a really good job to get that out of everyone."

This will not be the first time that Head Coach and General Manager Andy Brandt and Gilbert have worked together. The two of them played together for at the University of Wisconsin for three seasons from 2003-2006. This includes the two of them helping the Badgers win their sixth national championship.

Following his time at Wisconsin, Gilbert went onto play in the NHL for the next eleven seasons. The Minnesotan defenseman played 655 games during his NHL career recording 223 points. Gilbert had five stops throughout his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and Los Angeles Kings.

Gilbert is in his second season of coaching after starting the 2022-23 campaign as the Capitols' Director of Player Development. Once promoted to the head coaching position on an interim basis, Gilbert led the Capitols to a 6-7-0-1 record. Following his first two weeks on the job, the team went onto have a record of 5-3-0-1 over the last nine games of the season. The nine-game stretch included the team's longest winning streak of the season with the team surrendering over a goal less per game on average than the team's average for the season.

"Obviously, the memories that Andy and I have, while playing at Wisconsin, we'll cherish for the rest of our days," said Gilbert about working with his former teammate Andy Brandt. "When you have that chemistry and are comfortable with each other, it creates good energy in the locker room and between coaches. I am very excited about still being part of this staff and helping Andy and the other staff that we have. The biggest thing when it comes to having success is having a good vibe, a good culture amongst the players, because success follows that."

Zombo is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha hockey program where he served as team captain his senior year. Over his four seasons with the Mavericks, Zombo amassed 36 goals and 50 assists totaling 86 points in 137 career NCAA games. Upon graduation, Zombo played four years of professional hockey in the ECHL where he scored 26 goals with 81 total points over 250 games.

After retiring, Zombo entered the coaching ranks, working with the Green Bay Gamblers AAA program for two years. Following his time with Green Bay, Zombo made his way to Madison to coach in the Madison Capitols AAA program. Zombo is still the head coach of both the U18 and U16 Capitols and will keep these roles during the 2023-24 season.

"It's exciting," said Zombo about having his interim tag removed and remaining on staff for the 23-24 season. "I enjoyed coming to Madison, working within the association, and being part of the family that we have here. It was a wild two months, but at the same time, I learned a lot. That's the biggest process moving forward."

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 9, 2023


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