COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 10-16, 2025 all came up clutch for their teams over the weekend. Three teams and a pair of freshman goaltenders are represented among the KJ Branding NCHC Week 7 honorees:

• Forward – Ben Strinden, North Dakota, Sr.
• Defenseman – Boston Buckberger, Denver, Jr.
• Goaltender – Quentin Miller, Denver, Fr.
• Rookie – Dawson Cowan, Omaha, G

This is Strinden’s second Forward of the Week nod in the last three weeks and his third career NCHC weekly award. Buckberger bagged his third career Defenseman of the Week honor, but first this season. Miller gloved his second straight NCHC award but first Goalie of the Week accolade, after garnering Rookie of the Week last week. This is the first career NCHC honor for Cowan.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Ben Strinden, North Dakota
Senior Forward
Fargo, N.D.
 
Strinden continued his hot play of late, scoring three goals to help No. 6 North Dakota earn a split against Arizona State. The UND assistant captain potted the first goal of the game both nights against the Sun Devils. On Friday, he was named Third Star of the Game in a 5-2 win, tallying a goal while firing six shots on goal. The next night, Strinden scored two goals, the Fighting Hawks’ only goals of the contest, in a 4-2 loss, while earning Second Star of the Game. It was his second multi-goal game in his last four outings.
 
Strinden led all NCHC forwards with three goals on the weekend, while tying for the conference lead with 11 shots on goal. He also blocked two shots on Saturday and had an even plus/minus in the series. Strinden now leads North Dakota with 15 points on the season, while his seven goals tie for first on the team. He has 11 points (6g/5a) in his last six games and now a pair of Forward of the Week honors.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Boston Buckberger, Denver
Junior Defenseman
Saskatoon, Sask.
 
Buckberger contributed at both ends of the ice to power No. 3 Denver to a pair of wins over rival and then-No. 17 Colorado College over the weekend. The DU alternate captain was particularly potent on offense, scoring the game-winning goal both nights in the sweep of CC for his first markers of the season. In Friday’s 2-1 home victory, Buckberger had a hand in both goals, helping the Pioneers rally for an overtime win. He tallied an assist on the game-tying goal in the third period, before scoring the game-winner on a top-shelf snipe, which was his first career overtime goal. The next night down I-25 in Colorado Springs, Buckberger was again up to his heroics, potting a power play goal in the third period to put DU up 3-1 in an eventual 3-2 win.
 
Buckberger finished the Gold Pan series with three points on two goals and an assist, tying for the NCHC defenseman scoring lead on the weekend. He was the only player in the NCHC to score two game-winning goals over the weekend, earning First Star of the Game Friday and Second Star on Saturday. The game-winners were only the second and third of Buckberger’s career, while he scored a goal in back-to-back games for the first time as a Pioneer. The undrafted free agent fired six shots on goal against CC, blocked one shot and posted a +1 plus/minus while averaging 26:31 time on ice.
 
On the season, Buckberger now has two goals to go with eight assists in 12 games. His 10 points tie for second on the Pioneers team, while his +14 plus/minus is first.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Quentin Miller, Denver
Freshman Goaltender
Montreal, Quebec
 
After earning NCHC Rookie of the Week last week, Miller stepped up his game even more against Gold Pan rival Colorado College. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick backstopped DU to a pair of wins, while allowing only three goals all weekend, including only one even strength.
 
In Friday’s opener, Miller totaled 29 saves, including 13 in a scoreless first period, as he held CC at bay until the Pioneers rallied for a 2-1 overtime win. He also stopped a penalty shot and was named Second Star of the Game on Friday. A night later down the road in Colorado Springs, the freshman racked up 38 saves, including 19 in the third period, as DU won another one-goal game, 3-2. Miller was tabbed First Star of the Game on Saturday.
 
Miller finished the series going 2-0-0 with a 1.46 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage, totaling 67 saves on 70 shots faced. He led the NCHC in both GAA and save percentage among goalies with two games played on the weekend. Miller is now on a five-game winning streak, improving to 7-2-1 in 10 starts this year. He now leads the NCHC with a .942 save percentage this season and is second in the conference with a 1.58 GAA.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Dawson Cowan, Omaha
Freshman Goaltender
Warren, Manitoba
 
Cowan was stellar in his second career start for Omaha last Saturday, his only outing of the weekend, blanking then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on the road for his first career shutout. He compiled 32 saves in the 2-0 win, including 17 in the second period. Cowan also made eight short-handed saves to help Omaha go 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. The Bulldogs entered the game averaging 3.7 goals per game, but were blanked for only the second time this season. Cowan was named First Star of the Game on Saturday after helping the Mavericks earn a series split.
 
Cowan improved to 2-0-0 in his two starts this season with the win. With Saturday’s perfect showing, he upped his season save percentage to .944, while lowering his season goals-against average to 2.02. Cowan’s shutout Saturday was the only clean sheet in the NCHC all weekend.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Ty Henricks, Western Michigan
Bennett Schimek, Arizona State

Defenseman of the Week
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth
Theo Wallberg, Western Michigan

Goaltender of the Week
Dawson Cowan, Omaha
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
Jan Špunar, North Dakota
 
Rookie of the Week
Sam Huck, Western Michigan, F
Brandon Lisowsky, Colorado College, F
Ilia Morozov, Miami, F
Will Zellers, North Dakota, F