COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After no team swept or earned more than four points in the standings last weekend, four different teams are represented among the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of January 9-14, 2024, the NCHC announced Monday. Garnering KJ Branding NCHC Week 13 honors are:

• Forward – Ty Mueller, Omaha, Jr.
• Defenseman – Dylan Moulton, Miami, Sr.
• Goaltender – Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, So.
• Rookie – Miko Matikka, Denver, Forward

These are the first career NCHC weekly honors for both Mueller and Molton, though Mueller previously earned NCHC Rookie of the Month as a freshman. Mbereko gloved his third NCHC Goaltender of the Week nod this season, including second in three weeks, and the sixth of his career. Matikka picked up his fourth Rookie of the Week honor this year, all coming since November.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Ty Mueller, Omaha
Junior Forward
Cochrane, Alta.
 
Mueller tied for the NCHC lead with four points over the weekend, helping Omaha to a win and two points at then-No. 4 North Dakota. He had a hand in four of the Mavericks’ six goals in the series, including three points in Friday’s 5-4 overtime win. The Vancouver Canucks draft pick dished out a pair of primary assists in the win, with his second coming on the overtime game-winner, while he scored a power play goal to tie the game at 4-4 in the second period. A night later, Mueller handed out another primary assist on UNO’s only goal, which tied the game at 1-1 in an eventual 3-1 loss.
 
Mueller finished the series with a goal, three primary assists, five shots on goal and was +2. He also went 19-for-33 in the center circle for a .576 faceoff win percentage against UND, and blocked two shots on Saturday. Mueller is now riding a three-game point streak and leads the Mavericks in goals (7), assists (10) and points (17) in 20 games.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Dylan Moulton, Miami
Senior Defenseman
Nolensville, Tenn.
 
Moulton contributed at both ends of the ice to help Miami split with rival and then-No. 10 Western Michigan last weekend. He tallied a goal both nights against the Broncos, tripling his goal total on the season. In Friday’s opener, Moulton scored the RedHawks’ lone goal in a 4-1 loss. A night later, he contributed to Miami’s first NCHC win of the season, as he struck again from the blue line with an unassisted goal that tied the game at 1-1 in an eventual 4-3 victory.
 
In Saturday’s win, Moulton blocked five shots to tie his career high, while he also played on a penalty kill unit that went 7-for-8 in the series finale. Moulton was +1 each night to finish with a +2 plus/minus, while he fired three shots on goal in the split with WMU, scoring on two of them. With his two goals, Moulton now has three goals on the season, tying his career high, and four points in 18 games.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College
Sophomore Goaltender
Aspen, Colo.
 
Mbereko was rock-solid in net for the Tigers in their split at Minnesota Duluth last weekend, racking up at least 33 saves both nights. In Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss, the sophomore made 33 saves, including 16 in the second period. He also made nine saves short-handed in the opener to help CC’s penalty kill finish 5-for-5. The next night, he did one better, totaling 34 stops in a 3-2 overtime win, including half (17) of the saves coming in the third period to keep the game tied. Mbereko was named Third Star of the Game in Saturday’s win.
 
Mbereko compiled 67 saves against Minnesota Duluth, leading the NCHC on the weekend, while his .931 save percentage was tops among NCHC goalies with two games played. He also posted a 2.46 goals-against average and helped kill all six UMD power plays in the series, making 14 short-handed saves. Mbereko is now 11-8-1 in net this season, while he upped his season save percentage to .908 and lowered his season GAA to 2.78.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Miko Matikka, Denver
Freshman Forward
Helsinki, Finland
 
Matikka continued his stellar rookie campaign, racking up two goals and three points in Denver’s win and tie against NCHC-leading St. Cloud State. In Friday’s 5-1 win, the Arizona Coyotes draft pick sealed the victory with a power play goal late in the second stanza. A night later, Matikka struck again on the power play, tying the game at 2-2. He then handed out an assist on a power play goal later in the game on Saturday as DU rallied for a 4-4 overtime tie.
 
Matikka finished the series with two goals on three shots on goal and one assist. He stretched his goal-scoring streak to three games and now has 14 goals in his last 14 games, with at least a point in 14 of his last 15 games. Matikka’s 14 goals this season lead all NCHC freshmen and tie for fourth in the NCHC, while he has 20 points in 21 games for the Pioneers.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Ethan AuCoin, St. Cloud State
Sam Colangelo, Western Michigan
Stanley Cooley, Colorado College
Carter King, Denver
Owen McLaughlin, North Dakota
Albin Nilsson, Miami

Defenseman of the Week
Nicklas Andrews, Colorado College
Shai Buium, Denver
Zak Galambos, Western Michigan
Owen Gallatin, Minnesota Duluth

Goaltender of the Week
Matt Davis, Denver
Hobie Hedquist, North Dakota
Logan Neaton, Miami
 
Rookie of the Week
Braden Fischer, Minnesota Duluth, Forward
Hobie Hedquist, North Dakota, Goaltender
Tanner Ludtke, Omaha, Forward
Isak Posch, St. Cloud State, Goaltender