COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the first month of the 2024-25 season in the books, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has announced its October Players of the Month, with three teams represented:

• Player – Jack Devine, Denver, Sr., forward
• Goaltender – Isak Posch, St. Cloud State, So.
• Rookie – Zach Nehring, Western Michigan, forward

These are the first career NCHC monthly honors for all three recipients.
 
All three NCHC monthly honorees – Devine, Posch and Nehring – are now eligible for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) October National Player, Goaltender and Rookie of the Month, respectively. HCA national monthly honors are scheduled to be announced on Friday, Nov. 1.
 
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Jack Devine, Denver
Senior Forward
Glencoe, Ill.
 
Devine picked up where he left off last season, leading Denver to a 6-0-0 start to the year and leading the country in October with 14 points. His 2.33 points per game are also first nationally among players with more than two games played. Devine recorded points in all six Denver games to open the season, including five multi-point outings. The Florida Panthers draft pick handed out 13 assists, also tops in the NCAA in October (three more than any other player), and scored a goal during the first month of the season.
 
Devine recorded a career-high four assists in the season opener on Oct. 5 at Alaska Anchorage, while dishing out two assists in four other contests, including the series finale at UAA. He scored his lone goal of October in a 6-1 win over then-No. 20 Wisconsin on Oct. 26, which was part of a three-point game. Devine is now riding a career-long six-game point and assist streak into November.
 
Devine finished October with 18 shots on goal, including a career-high-tying seven Oct. 25 vs. Wisconsin. He also posted a +3 plus/minus in the month. With his 14 points this season, Devine now has 120 points (45g/75a) in 124 career games, with the 120 points the most among active NCHC players and ranking 55th all-time at Denver.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Isak Posch, St. Cloud State
Sophomore Goaltender
Umea, Sweden
 
Posch was a rock in net for the Huskies during October, starting all seven games, while posting a 6-1-0 record. The Swedish sophomore leads the NCHC with a .946 save percentage so far this season, which ranks fifth nationally in October. Posch is also first in the NCHC with 193 saves this month, which is tied for third in the NCAA, while his 27.57 saves per game are third in the NCHC in October. Posch, who earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors last year, already has two shutouts this season, equaling all other NCHC netminders combined.
 
Posch was twice named NCHC Goaltender of the Week in October, including on opening weekend after starting the season with a 34-save shutout at St. Thomas on Oct. 6. He earned his second Goalie of the Week nod after a split at No. 10 Michigan, which included a 24-save shutout on Oct. 19. Posch made at least 23 saves in every game this month, including topping 29 saves three times in wins over St. Thomas, Bemidji State and Augustana.
 
Posch’s 1.58 goals-against average finished third in the NCHC in October and seventh nationally. His two shutouts tie with three others for the NCAA lead. He also has anchored the Huskies’ NCHC-leading penalty kill unit, turning away 17 of 18 power play chances for their opponents.
 
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Zach Nehring, Western Michigan
Freshman Forward
Minot, N.D.
 
Nehring started his college career strong, tallying points in each of his first three collegiate games and scoring a goal in two of his first three, all Western Michigan wins. After four games in October, he’s tied for the team lead with five points, scoring three goals and adding two assists. His 1.25 points per game in October led all NCHC rookies with more than one game played.
 
Nehring opened his WMU career with a goal in a win over Ferris State on Oct. 11. The next night he handed out his first career assist, a primary helper, to cap a sweep of the Bulldogs. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick recorded his first career multi-point and multi-goal game on Oct. 17 against Bowling Green, scoring the game’s first two goals, while adding another primary assist in a 6-2 win. That earned him his first career NCHC Rookie of the Week honors.
 
Nehring finished October with five points (3g/2a), eight shots on goal and a +4 plus/minus, helping WMU to a 3-1-0 record to start the season. He also scored a goal in both of the Broncos’ exhibition wins in October, as well.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Player of the Month
Colby Ambrosio, Miami, Gr., F
Dominic James, Minnesota Duluth, Sr., F
Owen Michaels, Western Michigan, So., F
Bennett Schimek, Arizona State, Jr., F
Zach Urdahl, Omaha, Sr., F
 
Goaltender of the Month
Matt Davis, Denver, Sr.
Gibson Homer, Arizona State, Jr.
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha, Jr.
Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, Jr.
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, Fr.
 
Rookie of the Month
Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State, forward
Casper Nassen, Miami, forward