COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four different classes are represented among the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2026, with two honorees leading their team to a non-conference sweep and two others helping their teams open conference play strong. Garnering KJ Branding NCHC Week 5 honors are a pair of Broncos, a Pioneer and the Tommies’ first ever NCHC weekly award winner:

• Forward – William Whitelaw, Western Michigan, senior
• Defenseman – Joona Väisänen, Western Michigan, junior
• Goaltender – Will Ingemann, St. Thomas, sophomore
• Rookie – Daxon Rudolph, Denver, defenseman

Whitelaw collected his first NCHC weekly honor of the season and third of his career (twice Forward of the Week last season), while Väisänen picked up his second NCHC Defenseman of the Week nod this season and the fourth of his career. Ingemann gloved his first career NCHC honor while Rudolph is now a two-time NCHC Rookie of the Week after earning it following Week 1.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
William Whitelaw, Western Michigan
Senior Forward
Rosemount, Minn.
 
Whitelaw powered No. 5 Western Michigan to a sweep of Long Island, racking up seven points in the two wins, while tying an NCHC record. In Thursday’s opener, the Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick matched the conference’s single-game record with four goals in a 10-2 win, becoming the 10th NCHC player to do so and first Bronco since Ethen Frank on Nov. 19, 2021. It was Whitelaw’s first collegiate hat trick while his second goal served as the game-winner. He added an assist Thursday for a career-high five points. In Friday’s series finale, Whitelaw dished out two more assists in a 7-4 comeback win.
 
Whitelaw finished the weekend with an NCHC-best four goals and seven points to go along with three assists. The WMU assistant captain posted a +5 plus/minus against the Sharks while firing 10 shots on goal.
 
On the season, Whitelaw is tied for the NCHC lead and tied for third nationally with 14 points, tops among NCHC forwards, while his seven goals are second in the NCHC. He has at least one point in all seven games so far this season. His +11 plus/minus is tops among NCHC forwards, as well.
 
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Joona Väisänen, Western Michigan
Junior Defenseman
Kirkkonummi, Finland
 
Väisänen was productive at both ends of the ice, leading No. 5 Western Michigan to a sweep of Long Island. The Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick compiled five points against the Sharks, including his first career hat trick in Thursday’s 10-2 victory. He became only the sixth NCHC defenseman ever to record a hat trick and the third Bronco (Ronnie Attard, Michael Joyaux). Väisänen also handed out an assist in the series opener for a career-high four-point night. The next night, the WMU assistant captain dished out another helper in a 7-4 win.
 
Väisänen finished the series with three goals and two assists, with his five points tops among NCHC blueliners on the weekend. He’s the first NCAA defenseman to tally a hat trick this season while he and William Whitelaw became the first teammates to both record a hat trick in the same game in NCHC history on Thursday. Väisänen compiled a +4 plus/minus against LIU and put eight shots on goal, while not committing a penalty all series.
 
On the season, Väisänen is second in the NCHC and NCAA among blueliners with 12 points (5g/7a), while his five goals are also second in the NCHC among defensemen. His 1.71 points per game are tops nationally among blueliners in seven outings.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Will Ingemann, St. Thomas
Sophomore Goaltender
Plymouth, Minn.
 
Ingemann was a rock in net for St. Thomas last weekend, helping the Tommies earn a split at Miami in their NCHC conference debut. In Friday’s opener, Ingemann racked up 32 saves in a 2-1 loss to earn Third Star of the Game. The next night, he stopped a career-high 35 shots in a 4-1 victory – the Tommies first ever in NCHC play. Ingemann made double-digit saves all three periods, allowing only a late power play goal. He was tabbed Second Star of the Game on Saturday.
 
Ingemann finished the series 1-1-0 in net with an NCHC-best .957 save percentage on the weekend, racking up 67 saves on 70 shots. His 1.52 goals-against average was second in the NCHC on the weekend, while he allowed only one even strength goal all series.
 
Saturday’s win marked Ingemann’s first this season in three starts, improving to 1-2-0 on the year. He upped his season save percentage to .957, which leads the NCHC, while his 1.35 GAA this year ranks third in the conference.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Daxon Rudolph, Denver
Freshman Defenseman
Lacombe, Alberta
 
Rudolph continued to be a force all over the ice for No. 4 Denver in its conference-opening sweep of Omaha last weekend. The Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick chipped in two points and blocked four shots against the Mavericks. In Friday’s 2-1 win to start NCHC play, he blocked two shots and fired five shots on goal. The next night, Rudolph scored a power play goal and handed out the primary assist on DU’s final goal to seal a 4-1 victory. It was his third multi-point game this season. He also posted a career-high seven shots on goal Saturday.
 
Rudolph finished the sweep with a goal, an assist and a +1 plus/minus. His 12 shots on goal led all NCHC skaters on the weekend, while he also blocked four shots. On the season, the No. 4 overall NHL draft pick in 2026 ranks third among NCHC blueliners with nine points (3g/6a) in eight games.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Kristian Epperson, Denver
Bret Link, Colorado College
Nathan Pilling, St. Thomas
 
Defenseman of the Week
Philippe Blais-Savoie, Colorado College
Justin Kipkie, St. Thomas
Daxon Rudolph, Denver
Jonas Woo, Arizona State
 
Goaltender of the Week
Johnny Hicks, Denver
Quentin Miller, Western Michigan
Yan Shostak, St. Cloud State
Jackson Unger, Colorado College
 
Rookie of the Week
Adam Benák, F, Western Michigan
Kaeden Hawkins, F, St. Thomas
Hayden Paupanekis, F, St. Cloud State
Timmy Runtso, D, Miami
Cooper Simpson, F, North Dakota
Jonas Woo, D, Arizona State