COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After leading their teams to rivalry sweeps to close the regular season, the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of March 3-9, 2025 (Week 21) are comprised of two Western Michigan Broncos and two Denver Pioneers. Garnering the final KJ Branding NCHC weekly honors of the 2024-25 season are:

• Forward – Grant Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So.
• Defenseman – Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, So.
• Goaltender – Matt Davis, Denver, Sr.
• Rookie – Zach Nehring, Western Michigan, forward

This is the first career NCHC honor for Slukynsky, while Pohlkamp picked up his third Defenseman of the Week nod this season. Davis gloved his third Goaltender of the Week award this season and fifth of his career, while it was also Nehring’s third Rookie of the Week honor this season.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Grant Slukynsky, Western Michigan
Sophomore Forward
Warroad, Minn.
 
Slukynsky was an offensive force for the Broncos, leading the NCHC with five points on the weekend in a sweep at Miami. The sophomore recorded multiple points both nights against the RedHawks. In Friday’s 8-3 win, Slukynsky tied a career high with three assists, including primary assists on WMU’s first and third goals of the game. The next night, he scored back-to-back goals for his first multi-goal game as a Bronco. His first tally in Saturday’s 5-2 win tied the game on the power play, before giving WMU the lead for good in the second period.
 
Slukynsky was named First Star of the Game on Saturday and Second Star on Friday. He finished the weekend with two goals and three assists, while posting a +4 plus/minus, which tied for the NCHC weekend lead. He also won 12 of 22 faceoffs against Miami (54.5 percent). Slukynsky now has points in five of his last six games and completes the regular season with 31 points (8g/23a), which is second on the team.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Eric Pohlkamp, Denver
Sophomore Defenseman
Baxter, Minn.
 
Pohlkamp was a threat at both ends of the ice to help Denver sweep in-state rival Colorado College and secure the Gold Pan trophy. In Friday’s 4-1 win, the San Jose Sharks draft pick had a hand in each DU goal for a career-high four points. Pohlkamp assisted on each of the Pioneers’ first three goals, including on the game-winner, which broke a 1-1 tie in the final frame. The three helpers tied a career high. He then sealed the win with an empty-net goal from 180 feet away in his own zone. Pohlkamp was tabbed Second Star of the Game on Friday.
 
On Saturday, Pohlkamp blocked a shot and fired four shots on goal in a 4-3 road win, while helping the penalty kill go 3-for-4 in the contest. He finished the weekend with four points to lead all NCHC blueliners, while compiling a +2 plus/minus, blocking three shots and firing six shots on goal. Through the regular season, Pohlkamp now has 31 points (8g/23a) in 36 games, with the 31 points second among NCHC defensemen behind only Pohlkamp’s teammate, Zeev Buium.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Matt Davis, Denver
Senior Goaltender
Calgary, Alberta
 
Davis shined in his final regular-season series, backstopping Denver to a sweep of rival Colorado College. He racked up 54 saves on 58 shots faced in the two wins, while leading the NCHC with both a .931 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average on the weekend. On his Senior Night Friday, Davis totaled 22 saves in a 4-1 win to keep the Gold Pan in Denver, with the lone goal allowed coming on the power play. The next night in Colorado Springs, the senior stopped 32 shots, including a whopping 23 in the third period, as DU held on for a 4-3 win.
 
Davis was one of only two NCHC goalies to win both games on the weekend, while his 27 saves per game were third in the conference. He has now allowed one goal or fewer in four of his last six starts after Friday’s game. Davis improved to 24-7-1 in 32 starts this season, while upping his season save percentage to .922, which is fourth in the NCHC, and lowering his GAA to 2.05, which ranks third in the conference.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Zach Nehring, Western Michigan
Freshman Forward
Minot, N.D.
 
Nehring finished the season on fire, totaling four points in a sweep at Miami with multiple points both nights. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick scored three goals in the series, tying for the NCHC lead on the weekend. In Friday’s opener, Nehring notched two goals in the second period to help the Broncos pull away for an 8-3 win. He was tabbed First Star of the Game after his second career multi-goal game. A night later, Nehring tallied two more points, assisting on WMU’s first goal that tied the game on the power play, before scoring the game-winner midway through the middle period. He was named Second Star on Saturday in the 5-2 victory.
 
Nehring’s four points tied for the NCHC rookie lead on the weekend. He scored his three goals on four shots on goal in the series, while posting a +2 plus/minus. Nehring now has a point in six of his last seven games and completed the regular season with 26 points (13g/13a) in 34 games. The 26 points lead all WMU rookies and tie for second among NCHC freshmen, while his 13 goals are third on the team.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Sacha Boisvert, North Dakota
Max Dukovac, Miami
Sam Harris, Denver
Anthony Menghini, Minnesota Duluth
James Reeder, Denver
Sam Stange, Omaha

Defenseman of the Week
Robby Drazner, Western Michigan
Cooper Wylie, St. Cloud State

Goaltender of the Week
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
 
Rookie of the Week
Owen Beckner, Colorado College, forward
Sacha Boisvert, North Dakota, forward
Myles Hilman, Omaha, forward
James Reeder, Denver, forward