COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time all season, four different teams are represented among the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Feb. 13-19, 2023. Earning KJ Branding NCHC honors for week 20 are Denver sophomore Jack Devine for Forward of the Week, Omaha graduate student Jonny Tychonick for Defenseman of the Week, Western Michigan junior Cameron Rowe for Goaltender of the Week, and Minnesota Duluth forward Ben Steeves for Rookie of the Week.
 
This is Devine’s first career NCHC Forward of the Week nod and third career NCHC weekly award, claiming Rookie of the Week twice last year. The other three honorees are repeat winners from earlier this season. Rowe gloved his award for the fifth time this season and third time in the last five weeks. Steeves is now a four-time NCHC Rookie of the Week this season, including twice in the last four weeks, while Tychonick garnered Defenseman of the Week for the second time this season.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Jack Devine, Denver
Sophomore Forward
Glencoe, Ill.
 
Devine was an offensive machine in last weekend’s split with Minnesota Duluth, racking up seven points on DU’s 11 goals in the series. The Florida Panthers draft pick tied a career high with three points in Friday’s 6-2 victory, including his first collegiate multi-goal game. Devine scored the game-winning goal to break a 2-2 tie in the second period, then added another tally in the final frame to double the lead. He also assisted on DU’s first goal of the game on the power play. The next night, Devine erupted for a career-high four points in a 6-5 defeat, as he had a hand in each of DU’s final four goals while the Pioneers tried to rally. He scored DU’s second goal to tie the game Saturday, then handed out a trio of assists in the third period, including a primary helper to close the gap to 5-4 early in the final frame.
 
Devine finished the series with three goals and four assists, becoming the second DU player this season to record seven points in a weekend along with classmate Massimo Rizzo on Oct. 28-29 at Miami. Devine fired nine shots on goal against UMD and posted a +3 plus/minus in the series. He was also named First Star of the Game on Friday.
 
Devine is now seventh on the team with 23 points this season in 30 games, including eight goals and 15 assists.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jonny Tychonick, Omaha
Graduate Student Defenseman
Calgary, Alta.
 
Tychonick was productive at both ends of the ice to lead Omaha to a pair of wins and five points at Miami. The Ottawa Senators draft pick chipped in three points offensively, while helping limit the RedHawks to only three goals all weekend. In Friday’s 3-1 victory, Tychonick scored the game’s opening goal midway through the second period, while assisting on a power play goal in the third period, which doubled the lead and proved to be the game-winner. He also blocked three shots and played on a penalty kill unit that went 5-for-6 in the opener. A night later, Tychonick set up the game-winning goal with an assist only 18 ticks into overtime as UNO prevailed, 3-2. He fired five shots on goal in Saturday’s win while the penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3.
 
Tychonick ended the weekend with a goal, assists on both game-winners, nine shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus. He also anchored a penalty kill that finished 8-for-9 in the series, while blocking four shots and not committing a penalty all series. He was tabbed First Star of the Game in Friday’s win, as well.
 
On the season, Tychonick is tied for third on the team and first among UNO defensemen with 24 points, including eight goals and 16 assists. His 24 points are fifth among NCHC blue liners, while he has a +8 plus/minus this year.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan
Junior Goaltender
Wilmette, Ill.
 
Rowe was rock-solid in net, conceding only one goal each night in a sweep of Colorado College, and only one even-strength goal all series. In Friday’s 4-1 victory, the Wisconsin transfer made 24 saves, including 15 in the second period. He was tabbed Third Star of the Game on Friday with only a power play goal conceded. The next night, Rowe compiled 30 saves, with 14 coming in the first frame, in a 2-1 victory. It was the fourth time this year he’s made at least 30 stops in a game. He garnered Second Star of the Game on Saturday and helped kill both CC power plays in the win.
 
Rowe completed the series with the Tigers with a 2-0-0 record, while leading the NCHC with a 1.00 goals-against average and ranking second on the weekend with a .964 save percentage. He totaled 54 saves on 56 shots faced against CC, including three short-handed saves, as WMU went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
 
With the results, Rowe upped his season save percentage to .909, which is sixth in the NCHC, while lowering his season GAA to 2.38, which is fifth in the conference. He is now 20-9-1 this season in 31 appearances, with the 20 wins tied for first in the NCHC and tied for second nationally.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ben Steeves, Minnesota Duluth
Freshman Forward
Bedford, N.H.
 
Steeves stayed hot this season in a split at No. 3 Denver, tallying two more goals and three points in the two games. In Friday’s 6-2 loss, he dished out an assist on UMD’s second goal, which put the Bulldogs in front, 2-1. A night later in a 6-5 win, Steeves scored a pair of goals to earn First Star of the Game. His first goal came late in the second period to make it a 4-2 contest. He then struck on the power play early in the third period to make it a 6-4 game, with his goal serving as the game-winner.
 
Steeves finished the weekend with two goals on six shots on goal for a .333 shot percentage. He also added an assist, while firing three shots on goal each night.
 
Steeves now has 19 goals on the season, which tie for the NCAA lead among rookies and tie for fifth nationally among all skaters. His 19 goals also tie for third among all NCHC skaters. Steeves leads the Bulldogs with 25 points in 28 games this year.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Cameron Berg, So., Omaha
Riese Gaber, Jr., North Dakota
Jami Krannila, Sr., St. Cloud State
Luke Loheit, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
Jason Polin, Sr., Western Michigan
 
Defenseman of the Week
Mike Benning, Jr., Denver
Zak Galambos, Sr., Western Michigan
Chris Jandric, Gr., North Dakota
Wyatt Kaiser, Jr., Minnesota Duluth
 
Goaltender of the Week
Drew DeRidder, 5th, North Dakota
Ludvig Persson, Jr., Miami
 
Rookie of the Week
Jackson Blake, F, North Dakota
Aidan Thompson, F, Denver