COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Only two National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams were in action over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and both picked up KJ Branding NCHC weekly honors for the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2024. Western Michigan garnered a trio of awards, while North Dakota collected one KJ Branding NCHC Week 9 honor:

• Forward – Alex Bump, Western Michigan, sophomore
• Defenseman – Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, sophomore
• Goaltender – Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan, grad student
• Rookie – Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, goaltender

This is Bump’s first career NCHC Forward of the Week nod and second career weekly honor (Rookie of the Week once). Livanavage is now a four-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week in his career, including twice this season. Rowe repeats as Goaltender of the Week to glove his 10th career NCHC weekly honor, while Slukynsky earns his second Rookie of the Week award in three weeks.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Alex Bump, Western Michigan
Sophomore Forward
Prior Lake, Minn.
 
Bump led Western Michigan to a split with then-No. 6 Michigan over the weekend, recording points in both games. In Friday’s 4-1 victory in Kalamazoo, the Philadelphia Flyers draft pick set up WMU’s third goal to put the Broncos up 3-0 early in the second period. He also fired six shots on goal in the win over their state rival and was +1. The next night in Ann Arbor, Bump scored WMU’s lone goal in a 2-1 defeat, tallying with an extra attacker in the closing minutes. The WMU assistant captain was tabbed Third Star of the Game and was again +1.
 
Bump finished the series against Michigan with two points – a goal and an assist – while putting seven shots on goal and posting a +2 plus/minus. In 12 games this season, Bump now has 10 points (4g/6a), ranking third on the team in both points and goals.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota
Sophomore Defenseman
Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Livanavage played a big role in North Dakota’s series with Bemidji State over the weekend. The sophomore handed out an assist in both games, while blocking seven shots against the Beavers. On Friday, Livanavage had the primary assist on UND’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss and blocked two shots. The next night in Grand Forks, he handed out another primary helper to put UND up 2-1 late in the first period. He led all skaters with nearly 27 minutes of ice time Saturday and blocked another five shots in a 3-3 overtime tie.
 
Livanavage finished the weekend as the lone defenseman in the NCHC with two points, giving him a team-best 11 assists on the season. His seven blocked shots also led all NCHC players, while he posted a +1 plus/minus and fired three shots on goal against BSU. He led UND’s penalty kill to finish 4-for-4 in the series, as well. On the season, Livanavage is tied for the team lead with 12 points.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan
Graduate Student Goaltender
Wilmette, Ill.
 
Rowe repeated as Goaltender of the Week after backstopping Western Michigan to a 4-1 win over then-No. 6 Michigan on Friday night at Lawson Ice Arena. The fifth-year netminder (third at WMU) totaled 26 saves in the win, including 12 in the second period, while limiting the Wolverines’ top-10 offense to only one goal. Along with his goaltending, Rowe also dished out the primary assist on the game-winning goal Friday with a long, stretch pass to Tim Washe late in the first frame that made it a 2-0 game. Rowe was named First Star of the Game for his efforts.
 
Rowe finished Friday’s game with a .963 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average, both of which led the NCHC on the weekend. The assist was his first of the season, while the win was the 60th of his college career (49th at Western Michigan). Rowe improved to 6-0-0 in six starts this season and now boasts a .943 save percentage and a 1.49 GAA this season, both of which rank third nationally.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
Freshman Goaltender
Warroad, Minn.
 
Slukynsky continued his strong rookie campaign in his lone start Saturday at then-No. 6 Michigan. The Los Angeles Kings draft pick made 28 saves on 30 shots faced in a tough, 2-1 loss to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. He helped limit a Michigan offense averaging 4.00 goals per game coming into the weekend to only two, including stopping all 11 shots he faced in the third period.
 
Slukynsky finished the game with a .933 save percentage and 2.07 GAA, while continuing his streak of making at least 25 saves in every game he’s played this season. Four of his saves came short-handed as he helped WMU go 4-for-4 on the penalty kill Saturday. On the season, Slukynsky is now 3-2-1 in six starts with a .947 save percentage, which ties for first nationally, and a 1.66 GAA, which is ninth in the NCAA. He was also named to the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster on Monday.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Owen McLaughlin, North Dakota

Defenseman of the Week
Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Western Michigan

Goaltender of the Week
T.J. Semptimphelter, North Dakota
 
Rookie of the Week
Sacha Boisvert, North Dakota