COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After leading their teams to unbeaten weekends, a pair of Denver Pioneers and a pair of North Dakota Fighting Hawks earned KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Oct. 23-29, 2023, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced Monday. Two repeat winners are among the four KJ Branding NCHC Week 4 honorees:

• Forward – Massimo Rizzo, Denver, Jr.
• Defenseman – Garrett Pyke, North Dakota, 5th-Yr.
• Goaltender – Ludvig Persson, North Dakota, Sr.
• Rookie – Boston Buckberger, Denver, defenseman

Persson gloved his third straight Goaltender of the Week honor, while picking up his 10th career NCHC Goalie of the Week award. Buckberger bagged an NCHC honor for the second straight week as well, after claiming Defenseman of the Week last week. Rizzo garnered his third career Forward of the Week honor, but first this season, and fourth career NCHC weekly honor overall. This is Pyke’s first NCHC weekly award.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Massimo Rizzo, Denver
Junior Forward
Burnaby, B.C.
 
Rizzo led the Pioneers to a tie and a win over the weekend with a four-point effort. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect tallied two points each night, starting with a goal and an assist in a 5-5 overtime tie with Augustana on Friday. He had the lone helper on DU’s third goal, then scored a go-ahead goal in the third period to make it a 5-4 game. A night later against in-state foe Air Force, Rizzo scored two goals in a 4-0 victory. His first goal was the game-winner, while he made it a 3-0 game with a highlight-reel tally in the third period.
 
With his three-goal weekend, Rizzo extended his goal-scoring streak to four games, tying a career long. He has points in all six games so far this season, including five multi-point games. Rizzo leads the NCHC with 14 points and nine assists this year, while his five goals tie for third in the conference. He finished the pair of games last weekend with a +4 plus/minus, as well.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Garrett Pyke, North Dakota
Fifth-Year Defenseman
Toronto, Ont.
 
Pyke powered North Dakota at both ends of the ice in a win and tie against Minnesota State. Offensively, he chipped in five assists, including a pair of primary helpers, while helping limit the Mavericks to only two goals each night. In Friday’s 6-2 victory, he tied a career high with three assists, which came on three straight goals, the first of which was on the game-winning goal. The next night, the Alaska transfer had a hand in both of UND’s goals in a 2-2 overtime tie with two assists, while playing more than 24 minutes on the blue line.
 
Along with his five assists, Pyke finished the series with two blocked shots and a +1 plus/minus. His seven points this season, all assists, tie for the NCHC scoring lead among defensemen and lead all North Dakota skaters.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Ludvig Persson, North Dakota
Senior Goaltender
Hindas, Sweden
 
Persson continued his hot start in Grand Forks, backstopping North Dakota to a win and tie over Minnesota State last weekend. He allowed only two goals each night, including a 28-save showing in Friday’s 6-2 victory. The next night, the Miami transfer made 23 more saves in a 2-2 overtime tie. Persson also helped UND finish the series 6-for-6 on the penalty kill against the Mavericks, making four short-handed saves.
 
Persson posted a .927 save percentage in the series and a 1.93 goals-against average, leading all NCHC goalies who played two games last weekend. He has now allowed two goals or less in five of six starts this season, while posting a 4-1-1 record in net. Persson leads the NCHC with a .933 save percentage on the year, while his 1.65 GAA is second.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Boston Buckberger, Denver
Freshman Defenseman
Saskatoon, Sask.
 
Buckberger continued his strong start to his college hockey career, posting three points from the blue line to help Denver to a win and tie last weekend. On Friday against Augustana, he scored the game’s opening goal only 1:35 into the contest in an eventual 5-5 tie. The next night against Air Force, Buckberger stretched his point streak to four games with a pair of assists. He handed out the primary helper on the game’s first goal Saturday, which was the game-winner, while also setting up the last goal in a 4-0 win.
 
Buckberger finished the weekend with a goal, two assists and two blocked shots. His +4 plus/minus in the series led all NCHC defensemen on the weekend, as well. Buckberger now has seven points (2g/5a) on the season, which ties with UND’s Garrett Pyke for the NCHC defensemen scoring lead.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Hunter Johannes, North Dakota, Gr.
Gleb Veremyev, Colorado College, So.
John Waldron, Miami, So.

Defenseman of the Week
Axel Kumlin, Miami, So.

Goaltender of the Week
Freddie Halyk, Denver, Fr.
Logan Neaton, Miami, Gr.

Rookie of the Week
Jayden Perron, North Dakota, Forward
Evan Werner, Colorado College, Forward