COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four different teams are represented among the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Feb. 10-16, 2025. Garnering KJ Branding NCHC honors for Week 18 are a trio of underclassmen and a graduate student:

• Forward – Drew Montgomery, Colorado College, So.
• Defenseman – Joona Väisänen, Western Michigan, Fr.
• Goaltender – T.J. Semptimphelter, North Dakota, Gr.
• Rookie – Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, D

This is Montgomery’s first career NCHC Forward of the Week honor and second career NCHC weekly award. Semptimphelter gloved his second Goalie of the Week nod this season, while Väisänen and Hanson each earned their first career NCHC award.

FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Drew Montgomery, Colorado College
Sophomore Forward
Grand Forks, N.D.
 
Montgomery powered the Tigers to a pair of wins over Miami with a three-goal weekend, including scoring both game-winners. In Friday’s 6-1 win, he scored two goals in a span of 2:42 in the first period to make a 1-0 lead a 3-0 lead, with his first goal serving as the game-winner. It was Montgomery’s first multi-goal game this season and second of his career, which earned him First Star of the Game. The next night, the sophomore scored the game-winner 1:49 into overtime to give CC a 5-4 victory on his only shot on goal of the game. He was tabbed Third Star on Saturday.
 
Montgomery finished the series with three points on three goals, tying for the NCHC lead on the weekend. He fired four shots on goal against Miami and was +3 in the series. Montgomery now has a team-best 10 goals on the season and is sixth on the squad with 16 points in 30 games.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Joona Väisänen, Western Michigan
Freshman Defenseman
Kirkkonummi, Finland
 
Väisänen continued his strong freshman campaign for the Broncos, helping WMU complete a 5-point sweep of Omaha while contributing at both ends of the ice. In Friday’s 5-4 overtime victory, the freshman Finn tallied a career-high three points, including his first collegiate multi-goal game. He scored WMU’s second goal to break a 1-1 tie midway through the second stanza, then handed out the primary assist on a power play goal, before scoring the overtime game-winner 1:04 into the extra session. Väisänen was tabbed First Star of the Game Friday after his third career multi-point game. The next night the Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick was held off the scoresheet, but blocked two shots as WMU limited Omaha to one goal and 17 shots in a 6-1 victory.
 
Väisänen completed the series with two goals, an assist, two blocked shots, four shots on goal and a +1 plus/minus. His three points tied for the NCHC defenseman lead on the weekend, while he helped WMU’s penalty kill finish 7-for-9 against Omaha. Väisänen now has 17 points (3g/14a) in 28 games this season, which is second among Broncos blueliners.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
T.J. Semptimphelter, North Dakota
Graduate Student Goaltender
Marlton, N.J.
 
Semptimphelter was strong in net to backstop North Dakota to a split at then-No. 6 Denver. He piled up 62 saves in the two wins, surrendering four goals. In Friday’s opener, the Arizona State transfer racked up 28 saves, including 16 in a scoreless first period, in a 4-0 loss. The next night, Semptimphelter compiled 34 saves in a 3-1 win, including 27 saves over the final 40 minutes to secure the three points. He was tabbed Second Star of the Game Saturday after allowing the fewest goals to Denver in Magness Arena since Jan. 6, 2023.
 
Semptimphelter compiled a 1-1-0 record and a .939 save percentage in the series, turning aside 62 of 66 shots faced, while boasting a 2.05 goals-against average against DU. He improved to 12-8-2 in 22 games this season, while upping his save percentage to .905 and lowering his season GAA to 2.64. Semptimphelter has allowed just five goals over his last three starts, improving his save percentage in NCHC play to .907, which ranks sixth.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth
Freshman Defenseman
Hermantown, Minn.
 
Hanson was a force all over the ice last weekend to help Minnesota Duluth earn three conference points against then-No. 10 Arizona State, as he had a hand in half of UMD’s goals in the series. In Friday’s 3-2 overtime win, he dished out the primary assist on a power play goal that tied the game at 2-2 in the second period. The next night, Hanson notched his second career multi-point game with a goal and an assist in a 3-3 overtime tie. He scored the game’s opening goal only 2:52 into the contest, then handed out the lone assist on the game-tying goal 11 seconds into the third period.
 
Hanson totaled three points against the Sun Devils, including a goal and two assists, with both helpers coming on the game-tying goal. The three points tied for the NCHC lead among defensemen on the weekend. He also blocked four shots, including three on Saturday, fired six shots on goal, was +1 and played on a penalty kill unit that finished 6-for-8 in the series. On the season, Hanson now has 12 points in 28 games, including four goals and eight assists.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Jimmy Glynn, Omaha
Cam Knuble, Western Michigan
Artem Shlaine, Arizona State

Defenseman of the Week
Philippe Blais-Savoie, Colorado College
Boston Buckberger, Denver
Dylan Moulton, Miami

Goaltender of the Week
Klayton Knapp, Minnesota Duluth
Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
 
Rookie of the Week
Owen Beckner, Colorado College, F
Jayden Jubenvill, North Dakota, D
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, G