COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three different teams are represented among the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week presented by KJ Branding for the week of Feb. 2-8, 2026. Earning KJ Branding NCHC Week 18 honors are a pair of Huskies, a Fighting Hawk and a RedHawk:

• Forward – Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr.
• Defenseman – Abram Wiebe, North Dakota, Jr.
• Goaltender – Patriks Berzins, St. Cloud State, So.
• Rookie – David Deputy, Miami, F

Gross garnered Forward of the Week for the first time this season and second time in his career, while it’s his third career NCHC weekly award overall. Wiebe also picked up his first weekly honor of the season, while it’s his third career NCHC Defenseman of the Week nod after winning it twice as a sophomore. Berzins bagged his first career NCHC weekly award, while Deputy collected his fourth Rookie of the Week honor this season after being named NCHC Rookie of the Month in January.
 
FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State
Junior Forward
Calgary, Alberta
 
Gross was dominant in St. Cloud State’s sweep at Arizona State over the weekend, leading the NCHC with both four goals and five points. The SCSU captain scored two goals both nights, including both game-winning goals, as well as a short-handed goal each game. On Friday, Gross totaled three points, scoring SCSU’s first two goals in a 4-1 win. The opening goal came short-handed, while he also broke a 1-1 tie in the third period before assisting on an empty-netter to seal the win.
 
The next night, Gross’ first goal came on the power play, before again scoring short-handed (unassisted) in the final minute of regulation to break a 3-3 tie and give the Huskies a 4-3 victory. He was named First Star of the Game both nights in the sweep, while he also marked the first time SCSU scored short-handed goals in back-to-back games since Jan. 21-22, 2022.
 
Gross finished the weekend with four goals and an assist, while posting a +1 plus/minus. He also fired seven shots on goal and won 17 faceoffs at ASU. On the season, Gross ranks fifth in the NCHC with 37 points, while his 18 goals are second. In conference play only, he leads the NCHC with 24 points and 16 goals. Gross now has four multi-goal games this season.
  
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Abram Wiebe, North Dakota
Junior Defenseman
Mission, B.C.
 
Wiebe was a rock at both ends of the ice to help No. 3 North Dakota pick up four conference points at No. 10 Minnesota Duluth last weekend. The Calgary Flames prospect handed out assists in both games against UMD, including one on the Fighting Hawks first goal on Friday, which came short-handed and helped UND rally from 2-0 down in an eventual 3-2 overtime loss. The next night in a 4-1 victory, Wiebe handed out a career-high three assists, all in the third period, with two coming on the power play. Two of his assists were primary helpers, with one of those coming on the game-winner in the final frame.
 
Wiebe completed the weekend with four assists, which led all NCHC skaters, while his four points were tops among NCHC blueliners, as well. He posted a +2 plus/minus in the series with UMD, while blocking two shots. In 28 games this season, Wiebe now has three goals and 16 assists for 19 points, which rank fifth in the NCHC among defensemen.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Patriks Berzins, St. Cloud State
Sophomore Goaltender
Talsi, Latvia
 
Berzins backstopped St. Cloud State to a sweep at Arizona State, racking up more than 30 saves in each win, while allowing four goals all weekend. On Friday, he made 33 saves in a 4-1 victory, including 17 stops in the second period. The next night, Berzins racked up a career-high 40 saves in a 4-3 win, making 19 stops in the final frame alone. He also totaled nine short-handed saves in the series to help the Huskies go 5-for-6 on the penalty kill against ASU.
 
Berzins totaled 73 saves on 77 shots faced for a .948 save percentage in the sweep at ASU, both of which led NCHC netminders on the weekend. He posted a 2.00 goals-against average in the two wins, lowering his season GAA to 2.68. With the sweep, Berzins improved to 9-6-0 on the year, while upping his season save percentage to .916, which ranks second in the NCHC.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
David Deputy, Miami
Freshman Forward
Gurnee, Ill.
 
Deputy continued his hot streak for No. 20 Miami, tallying three of his team’s four goals in a split with No. 4 Western Michigan. In Friday’s opener, he potted the RedHawks final two goals, with his first tying the game in the third period, before scoring the overtime game-winner unassisted in a 3-2 victory. He was named First Star of the Game Friday after helping Miami beat a top-five team for the first time since 2022. The next night, Deputy scored MU’s lone goal short-handed in a 3-1 loss, extending his goal-scoring streak to three games. He was named Third Star on Saturday.
 
Deputy finished the weekend with three goals to lead all NCHC rookies, including one game-winner and one short-handed. He fired nine shots on goal and posted a +2 plus/minus against the Broncos. On the season, the NCHC’s January Rookie of the Month has 19 points, which is third on the RedHawks, while Deputy’s 14 goals are tops among all NCHC freshmen.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
David Deputy, Miami
Rieger Lorenz, Denver
Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth
Liam Valente, Western Michigan
Klavs Veinbergs, Colorado College

Defenseman of the Week
Mason Reiners, St. Cloud State
Samuel Sjolund, Western Michigan

Goaltender of the Week
Matteo Drobac, Miami
Johnny Hicks, Denver
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
Jan Špunar, North Dakota
Jackson Unger, Colorado College
 
Rookie of the Week
Bobby Cowan, Western Michigan, F
Johnny Hicks, Denver, G
Jan Špunar, North Dakota, G
Jackson Unger, Colorado College, G
Noah Urness, St. Cloud State, F