COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Underclassmen shined over the weekend as two freshmen and two sophomores have been tabbed the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 2-8, 2026, the NCHC announced on Tuesday. Three teams are represented among the KJ Branding NCHC Week 6 honorees, with a pair of Pioneers and one each from St. Thomas and Omaha:

• Forward – Lucas Van Vliet, St. Thomas, So.
• Defenseman – Daxon Rudolph, Denver, Fr.
• Goaltender – Johnny Hicks, Denver, So.
• Rookie – Gavin Hodnett, Omaha, forward

These are the first career NCHC honors for Van Vliet and Hodnett. Rudolph racked up his third NCHC weekly honor already this season, including second straight, but this is his first Defenseman of the Week nod. He was named NCHC Rookie of the Week twice, including last week. Hicks gloved his third career NCHC weekly accolade, including second Goalie of the Week honor, but it’s his first this season.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Lucas Van Vliet, St. Thomas
Sophomore Forward
Livonia, Mich.
 
Van Vliet had a monster weekend to power St. Thomas to a sweep of Alaska Anchorage, racking up five goals and seven points in the two wins. In Friday’s opener, the Vegas Golden Knights draft pick recorded his first career hat trick and a career-high four points in a 5-2 win. Van Vliet bookended UST’s scoring Friday with a pair of power play goals while tallying one goal each period. He also had the primary assist on the game-winning goal Friday. Van Vliet followed that up with two goals and three points on Saturday in a 7-4 victory. He scored a short-handed goal in the second stanza and tallied the game-winner in the third period, breaking a 4-4 tie.
 
Van Vliet’s five goals and seven points led the NCHC on the weekend, becoming just the second Tommie in program history with five goals in a weekend series. He also dished out two assists in the sweep. His 14 shots on goal and +6 plus/minus on the weekend were both tops in the NCHC, as well.
 
On the season, Van Vliet is second in the NCHC and first among NCHC forwards with eight goals. His 11 points (8g/3a) in eight games lead the Tommies while his 1.00 goals per game average is tops in the NCHC.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Daxon Rudolph, Denver
Freshman Defenseman
Lacombe, Alberta
 
Rudolph continued to dazzle in his freshman season, leading No. 3 Denver to a pair of wins at Arizona State. The Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick scored the game-winning goal both nights, including his first career multi-goal game on Friday. In the series opener, Rudolph potted a pair of power play goals in a span of three minutes in the third period to expand DU’s lead from 3-2 to 5-2 in an eventual 6-3 victory. On Sunday, he scored the game’s only goal, striking in overtime after a scoreless regulation to give DU a 1-0 win and two points in the standings.
 
Rudolph finished the weekend with three goals, which led all NCHC blueliners. He also fired 12 shots on goal to pace NCHC defensemen on the weekend, while posting an even plus/minus and blocking a shot. He averaged 23:30 time on ice against the Sun Devils, tops on the team.
 
In 10 games so far this season, Rudolph is third among NCHC defensemen with 12 points (6g/6a), while his six goals are second. He is now riding a season-best three-game goal and point streak with four goals and an assist during that span. Friday’s two-goal outing marked his fourth multi-point game this season.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Johnny Hicks, Denver
Sophomore Goaltender
Kamloops, B.C.
 
Hicks backstopped No. 3 Denver to a pair of wins at Arizona State last weekend while remaining undefeated still in his college career. In Friday’s opener, he made 21 saves on 24 shots faced in a 6-3 win. Two days later, Hicks stepped up his game, turning aside all 28 shots he faced, allowing Denver to win in overtime, 1-0. Sunday marked Hicks’ first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career, including second 1-0 whitewash win. He was named Third Star of the Game in Sunday’s finale, with the 28 saves a season high.
 
Hicks finished the weekend with a .942 save percentage, which led all NCHC netminders, stopping 49 of 52 shots faced against ASU. He posted a 1.50 goals-against average, which was second in the NCHC on the weekend, and was the lone goalie with a shutout. Hicks also picked up an assist on Denver’s fifth goal in Friday’s win.
 
With the two wins, Hicks improved to 5-0-0 this season and 21-0-1 for his college career. He ranks third in the NCHC with both a .939 save percentage and a 1.40 GAA in his five starts this season.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Gavin Hodnett, Omaha
Freshman Forward
Winnipeg, Manitoba
 
Hodnett had a breakout weekend to help Omaha earn a win, a tie and five points in the standings against St. Cloud State. The freshman scored a goal both nights against SCSU, the first two goals and points of his college career. In Friday’s opener, Hodnett tallied Omaha’s first goal, tying the game at 1-1 in an eventual 2-2 overtime tie and shootout win for the Mavericks. It was his first career goal and earned him Second Star of the Game. The next night, Hodnett again struck in the first period, putting Omaha up 3-1 in an eventual 5-3 victory.
 
Hodnett completed the series with two goals and two points, while he posted a +3 plus/minus on the weekend. He fired three shots on goal against SCSU and blocked two shots in Saturday’s win. On the season, Hodnett now has two points in six games.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Wilson Bjorck, Colorado College
Cody Croal, North Dakota
Sam Harris, Denver
Matouš Kucharcík, Miami
Sean Tschigerl, Omaha
 
Defenseman of the Week
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth
Ryan McCleary, Omaha
Colton Roberts, Colorado College
Nick Williams, St. Thomas
 
Goaltender of the Week
Matteo Drobac, Miami
Will Lacelle, Omaha
Jan Špunar, North Dakota
Jackson Unger, Colorado College
 
Rookie of the Week
Kaeden Hawkins, F, St. Thomas
Matouš Kucharcík, F, Miami