COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A pair of sophomores and a pair of freshmen have been selected KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Feb. 19-25, 2024, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced Monday. Earning KJ Branding NCHC honors for Week 19 are:

• Forward – Jackson Blake, North Dakota, So.
• Defenseman – Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Fr.
• Goaltender – Simon Latkoczy, Omaha, So.
• Rookie – Isak Posch, St. Cloud State, G

This is Blake’s second Forward of the Week nod this season and the third NCHC weekly honor of his career. Similarly, Livanavage snagged his second Defenseman of the Week award this season and his third NCHC weekly honor. Latkoczy has now gloved Goaltender of the Week twice this season and three times in his career, while he has four career NCHC weekly honors now. This is Posch’s first career NCHC weekly award.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Jackson Blake, North Dakota
Sophomore Forward
Eden Prairie, Minn.
 
Blake powered North Dakota to a sweep of Minnesota Duluth with a seven-point weekend, tallying three more points than any other NCHC player over the weekend. On Friday, Blake recorded a career-high five points, as he had a hand in all but one goal in UND’s 6-0 shutout of the Bulldogs. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick opened the scoring only 1:05 into the game Friday, with his goal serving as the game-winner. He then assisted on UND’s final four goals, with the first three primary helpers, including a highlight-reel steal and set-up on the Fighting Hawks’ fifth goal. Blake was named First Star of the Game on Friday. The next night, he doled out two more primary assists in a 4-2 victory, setting up each of UND’s first two tallies. Blake earned Second Star of the Game on Saturday.
 
Blake finished the series with a game-winning goal and six assists, including five primary helpers. He also fired seven shots on goal and posted a +4 plus/minus, tying for the NCHC lead on the weekend. Blake now has 17 points in his last eight games and is tied for the NCHC scoring lead with 47 points (18g/29a) overall this year, which ties for fifth nationally. His 32 points and 22 assists in conference play are both first in the NCHC.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota
Freshman Defenseman
Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Livanavage contributed at both ends of the ice in North Dakota’s sweep of Minnesota Duluth. Defensively, he helped limit the Bulldogs to two goals all weekend, including a shutout in Friday’s opener, while playing on a penalty kill unit that was a perfect 3-for-3. Offensively, Livanavage handed out a trio of assists, including two in Friday’s 6-0 victory, with all three helpers coming on the power play as UND went 3-for-9 on the man advantage. He had the primary assist on UND’s first goal Friday (by Jackson Blake), which was the game-winner, then also had a hand in the Fighting Hawks’ fourth goal Friday and set up UND’s first goal again on Saturday in a 4-2 win.
 
Along with the three assists, Livanavage blocked three shots in the sweep and finished with a +2 plus/minus. He’s now riding a three-game point streak and ranks second among freshman defensemen in the NCHC with 22 points (3g/19a) in 32 games this season. His 22 points are seventh among all NCHC blueliners this year.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha
Sophomore Goaltender
Trencin, Slovakia
 
Latkoczy was a rock in net, backstopping Omaha to an unbeaten, five-point weekend against then-No. 10 Colorado College. He allowed only one goal all series against the Tigers, while leading the NCHC with a .977 save percentage on the weekend. In Friday’s opener, Latkoczy turned aside all 24 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season and fourth career whitewash. Of his 24 saves, 11 came in the third period as UNO held on to a tight lead. The Slovak was named Third Star of the Game in Friday’s 3-0 win. The next night, Latkoczy made 18 more saves, including 10 in the first period, in a 1-1 overtime tie. He made two saves in overtime and denied all three CC attempts in the ensuing shootout to help earn Omaha the extra standings point.
 
Latkoczy posted a 1-0-1 record against CC, totaling 42 saves on 43 shots faced. His 0.48 goals-against average was also tops in the NCHC over the weekend, like his save percentage. Latkoczy improved to 13-9-3 on the season in 25 starts, while upping his season save percentage to .905 and lowering his season GAA to 2.79.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Isak Posch, St. Cloud State
Freshman Goaltender
Umea, Sweden
 
Making back-to-back starts for the first time in his college career, Posch came up big for the Huskies, backstopping SCSU to a four-point weekend against then-No. 13 Western Michigan. In Saturday’s finale, the Swede stopped all 19 shots he faced in a 3-0 win for his first career shutout. That earned him Second Star of the Game. A night earlier in the series opener, Posch racked up 30 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss, the third time this season he’s reached the 30-save plateau.
 
Posch finished the series with 49 saves, while posting a .925 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average. He improved to 3-1-2 in six starts in net this year, while compiling a .936 save percentage and a 1.79 goals-against average on the season in seven appearances.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Jared Wright, Denver, So.
 
Defenseman of the Week
Boston Buckberger, Denver, Fr.
 
Goaltender of the Week
Matt Davis, Denver, Jr.
Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, So.
Ludvig Persson, North Dakota, Sr.
Isak Posch, St. Cloud State, Fr.
 
Rookie of the Week
Alex Bump, Western Michigan, F
Sam Harris, Denver, F
Jayden Perron, North Dakota, F