COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After helping lead their teams to convincing series sweeps last weekend, skaters from St. Cloud State, Omaha and Western Michigan have earned KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Jan. 16-22, 2023. Garnering KJ Branding NCHC honors for week 16 are St. Cloud State senior Jami Krannila for Forward of the Week, Omaha freshman Jacob Guevin for Defenseman of the Week, Western Michigan junior Cameron Rowe for Goaltender of the Week and SCSU forward Jack Rogers for Rookie of the Week.
 
This is Krannila’s first career NCHC Forward of the Week award and second career NCHC weekly honor, earning Rookie of the Week back in 2020. Rowe gloved his third Goaltender of the Week nod this season and second in four weeks. These are the first career NCHC honors for both Guevin and Rogers.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Jami Krannila, St. Cloud State
Senior Forward
Nokia, Finland
 
Krannila played a critical role in St. Cloud State sweeping then-No. 3 Denver, posting a four-point weekend. In Friday’s 7-3 victory, the assistant captain scored two goals, including the game-winner. His first tied the game at 2-2, while a little more than six minutes later he made it a 4-2 game with a snipe right after SCSU had completed a 5-on-3 penalty kill. The next night, Krannila had the primary assist on both Huskies goals in a 2-0 shutout win. He set up the game-winner in the second period and a power play goal minutes later to double the lead.
 
Krannila finished the series with two goals, two assists and a +4 plus/minus, which led all NCHC skaters on the weekend, including +3 on Friday. The Finn fired five shots on goal Friday and put eight on target in the sweep. Krannila also went 11-for-19 (.579 win percentage) in the faceoff circle against the Pioneers.
 
On the season, Krannila ranks fifth in the NCHC with a team-best 29 points and is tied for seventh in the conference with 13 goals.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jacob Guevin, Omaha
Freshman Defenseman
Drummondville, Quebec
 
Guevin was a stalwart on the Mavericks’ blue line, helping Omaha sweep Miami, while limiting the RedHawks to only one goal all weekend. On Friday, the Canadian blocked three shots and fired three shots on goal in a 4-1 win over Miami. He also recorded an assist on the game’s final goal Friday, while posting a +1 plus/minus and aiding in killing both MU power plays. The follow night, Guevin and the Mavericks blanked the RedHawks, 2-0. Guevin blocked two more shots and again played on a penalty kill that went 2-for-2.
 
Guevin ended the series with an assist, five blocked shots, three shots on goal and a +1 plus/minus. He also helped Omaha finish a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill against the RedHawks and did not commit a penalty all weekend. Guevin now has nine assists and 11 points in 23 games this season.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan
Junior Goaltender
Wilmette, Ill.
 
Rowe was a rock in net for the Broncos, backstopping Western Michigan to a road sweep at Colorado College, while allowing only one goal each night. On Friday, the Wisconsin transfer turned aside 27 of 28 shots, allowing only a third-period goal after a turnover in front of his own net. Six of his 27 saves came short-handed to kill a pair of Tiger power plays, while he earned First Star of the Game. The next night in another 4-1 victory, Rowe made 23 more saves to earn Second Star of the Game. After allowing a goal early on Saturday, Rowe denied the Tigers the final 57:24 of the contest.
 
Rowe finished the weekend with two wins, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage, totaling 50 saves on 52 shots faced. The 50 saves were the most by any NCHC netminder last weekend, with 11 coming short-handed as Rowe helped WMU go 6-for-6 on the penalty kill against CC.
 
Rowe improved to 15-8-1 this season, while upping his season save percentage to .898 and lowering his GAA to 2.64.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jack Rogers, St. Cloud State
Freshman Forward
East Northport, N.Y.
 
Rogers doubled his season point total and tripled his season goal total in SCSU’s sweep of then-No. 3 Denver. He scored a goal both nights against DU, after entering with one goal all season. On Friday, his goal midway through the second period broke a 2-2 tie as the Huskies prevailed, 7-3. A night later, Rogers broke a 0-0 deadlock in the second period with the game-winning goal, as SCSU blanked Denver, 2-0. He was named First Star of the Game on Saturday.
 
Rogers ended the series with two points on two goals, fired three shots on goal and posted a +2 plus/minus, going +1 each game. He also blocked two shots in the sweep. On the season, Rogers now has three goals and an assist for four points in 17 games.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Mark Senden, Gr., North Dakota
Tim Washe, Jr., Western Michigan

Defenseman of the Week
Jacob Bauer, Jr., Western Michigan

Goaltender of the Week
Jaxon Castor, Sr., St. Cloud State
Drew DeRidder, 5th, North Dakota
Simon Latkoczy, Fr., Omaha
 
Rookie of the Week
Kyle Bettens, F, Minnesota Duluth
Jackson Blake, F, North Dakota
Simon Latkoczy, G, Omaha
Ryan McAllister, F, Western Michigan