COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following the first weekend in December, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced its KJ Branding Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 27 through Dec. 3, 2023, with three teams represented. Earning KJ Branding NCHC honors for Week 9 are:

• Forward – Cameron Berg, North Dakota, Jr.
• Defenseman – Shai Buium, Denver, Jr.
• Goaltender – Simon Latkoczy, Omaha, So.
• Rookie – Zeev Buium, Denver, Defenseman

Berg earned his second career NCHC weekly honor and first Forward of the Week nod, after earning Rookie of the Week while playing for Omaha in 2021. Both Buium brothers earned their second career NCHC weekly award as well, with Shai claiming his first Defenseman of the Week and Zeev capturing a second straight NCHC award after being Defenseman of the Week last week. Latkoczy gloved his second career Goalie of the Week accolade and third NCHC weekly honor of his career, but first this season.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Cameron Berg, North Dakota
Junior Forward
West Fargo, N.D.
 
Berg had a big weekend to lead North Dakota to a split and four points at then-No. 3 Denver. He led the NCHC with three goals on the weekend and tied for the league lead with four points in the series. Berg recorded two points both nights at DU, tallying two goals in Friday’s opener, including sealing the 7-5 win with a snipe late in the game. On Saturday, the Omaha transfer opened the game’s scoring with a goal and added an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss, as he had a hand in both UND goals.
 
Berg stretched his point streak to four games (5g/2a) with the two multi-point outings. He also fired eight shots on goal and went 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) in the center circle against Denver. The New York Islanders draft pick now has 16 points in 16 games this season, which is second on the team, tallying seven goals and nine assists.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Shai Buium, Denver
Junior Defenseman
San Diego, Calif.
 
Buium had an impact at both ends of the ice in Denver’s series with then-No. 2 North Dakota last weekend. Offensively, he tied a career high with three points on Friday, scoring DU’s first goal of the game to tie the contest at 1-1, while adding two assists in the 7-5 defeat. Defensively, the Detroit Red Wings draft pick blocked three shots in the series and posted a +2 plus/minus, helping DU win the series finale in overtime, 3-2.
 
On the season, Buium now has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 15 games, while compiling a +14 plus/minus.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha
Sophomore Goaltender
Trencin, Slovakia
 
Latkoczy backstopped Omaha to a split and two points at Minnesota Duluth last weekend. In Friday’s opener, he made 24 saves and surrendered three goals in a 4-2 loss. Those were the only goals the Slovak would allow all weekend, as he recorded a 29-save shutout Saturday in a 1-0 overtime win. Latkoczy made 10 saves in the third period Saturday to keep the game scoreless, logging his first whitewash of the season and the third of his career. He also compiled 10 short-handed saves in the series to help Omaha keep UMD’s lethal power play at bay as the Mavericks went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
 
Latkoczy led the NCHC with 53 saves on the weekend and was second with a .946 save percentage, while posting a 1.49 goals-against average at UMD. On the season, he improved to 6-3-1 in net, while upping his season save percentage to .912 and lowering his GAA to 2.45.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Zeev Buium, Denver
Freshman Defenseman
San Diego, Calif.
 
Buium won his second straight NCHC weekly honor after a three-point weekend from the blue line. He handed out an assist in Friday’s loss to then-No. 2 North Dakota, before racking up two big points in a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday. First, the draft-eligible prospect scored the game-tying goal in the third period. Then he set up the overtime game-winner from Carter King for his second assist of the weekend.
 
With a goal and two assists in the series, Buium stretched his point streak to 10 games, the longest by a Pioneer this season. He has 17 points (4g/13a) during that 10-game streak and leads all NCHC defensemen with 21 points on the season. His five goals this year are also tops among NCHC blue liners. The reigning National Co-Player of the Month was selected to the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster on Monday, as well.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Carter King, Denver, Jr.
Dylan Wendt, Western Michigan, Jr.

Defenseman of the Week
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Fr.

Goaltender of the Week
Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan, Sr.
Zach Stejskal, Minnesota Duluth, Sr.
 
Rookie of the Week
Alex Bump, Western Michigan, Forward
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Defenseman