COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The four KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2025 all played key roles in helping their teams earn victories on the opening weekend of conference play. Collecting KJ Branding NCHC honors for Week 5 are:

• Forward – Ben Strinden, North Dakota, Sr.
• Defenseman – Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, So.
• Goaltender – Simon Latkoczy, Omaha, Sr.
• Rookie – Ollie Josephson, North Dakota, F

This is Strinden’s first career Forward of the Week nod but second career NCHC weekly award, earning Rookie of the Week once in 2023. Hanson garnered his second Defenseman of the Week award this season and third career NCHC weekly honor (Rookie of the Week last year). Latkoczy gloved his eighth career NCHC Goaltender of the Week honor, but first this season, while this is Josephson’s first career NCHC award.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Ben Strinden, North Dakota
Senior Forward
Fargo, N.D.
 
Strinden erupted for five points over the weekend to help North Dakota earn a regulation win and four standings points against then-No. 10 Minnesota Duluth to start conference play. In Friday’s opener, the assistant captain scored the game-tying goal with only 1:11 left in regulation to force overtime and collect a point in the standings for UND despite a 4-3 OT loss. The next night, Strinden dished out a career-high four assists in a 5-1 victory, including a pair of primary helpers. The four assists are the most by an NCHC skater in a game this season.
 
Strinden finished the series against the Bulldogs with a goal and four assists, with the four helpers and five points leading the NCHC on the weekend. He also posted an NCHC-best +5 plus/minus in the series while putting five shots on goal. On the season, Strinden now leads North Dakota with nine points and seven assists in eight games.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth
Sophomore Defenseman
Hermantown, Minn.
 
Hanson was a force at both ends of the ice for the Bulldogs in their conference-opening series at then-No. 8 North Dakota. In Friday’s opener, the assistant captain played the role of overtime hero, scoring the game-winning goal in the extra session to earn a 4-3 win and two points for UMD in the standings. He also dished out the primary assist on the Bulldogs’ opening goal Friday, which came short-handed. Hanson blocked four shots in Friday’s win and three more in Saturday’s loss.
 
Hanson finished the weekend with two points on a game-winning goal and an assist. He also blocked seven shots in the series to lead the NCHC on the weekend, while firing eight shots on goal, including six on Friday. Hanson posted a +1 plus/minus at UND, while leading a Bulldogs penalty kill unit that finished 5-for-6.
 
The sophomore now leads all NCHC defensemen with 10 points this season, scoring three goals and adding seven assists in 10 games. His +11 plus/minus on the year is tied for first among NCHC blueliners.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha
Senior Goaltender
Trencin, Slovakia
 
Latkoczy was nearly unbeatable in Omaha’s conference opener on Friday, backstopping the Mavericks to a victory at then-No. 15 Colorado College. The co-captain racked up a season-high 49 saves in the 3-2 win, including 21 stops in the third period to help Omaha hold on for the win. The 49 saves are the most by an NCHC goalie in a game this season. Latkoczy also made six short-handed saves as the Mavs went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill on Friday. The Slovak allowed only one goal through the first 59 minutes of play before CC tallied its second with an extra attacker.
 
Latkoczy posted a .961 save percentage in his only game of the weekend, stopping 49 of 51 shots faced with a 2.00 goals-against average. With the win, Latkoczy improved to 3-2-0 in five starts this year. His .925 save percentage on the year is third in the NCHC, while he lowered his season GAA to 2.82.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ollie Josephson, North Dakota
Freshman Forward
Victoria, B.C.

Josephson had a breakout weekend for North Dakota, racking up four points against then-No. 10 Minnesota Duluth to help UND earn a regulation win and four standings points. Entering with only one point all season, Josephson recorded multiple points both nights against UMD. On Friday, he scored his first career goal, which came short-handed and tied the game at 1-1. He then assisted on the late, game-tying goal that forced overtime in an eventual, 4-3 loss. The next night, Josephson repeated the feat with another goal and primary assist in a 5-1 victory.
 
Josephson finished the series with two goals and two assists for four points, all of which tied for the NCHC rookie lead on the weekend. He also went 17-14 in the faceoff circle against UMD and fired five shots on goal in the series. His +4 plus/minus led NCHC rookies, while he also blocked three shots against the Bulldogs. On the season, Josephson now has five points (2g/3a) in eight games.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State
Maximilion Helgeson, Miami
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth
James Reeder, Denver
William Whitelaw, Western Michigan

Defenseman of the Week
Boston Buckberger, Denver
Griffin Ludtke, Omaha
Samuel Sjolund, Western Michigan

Goaltender of the Week
Patriks Berzins, St. Cloud State
Quentin Miller, Denver
Jan Špunar, North Dakota
 
Rookie of the Week
Bobby Cowan, Western Michigan, F
Kristian Epperson, Denver, F
Ethan Hay, Miami, F
Luke Woodworth, Omaha, F