COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the regular season complete, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced on Monday its final Players of the Week presented by KJ Branding for the 2025-26 campaign, covering the week of Feb. 23-March 1, 2026. Four different teams are represented among the KJ Branding NCHC Week 21 honorees, including a pair of seniors and a pair of freshmen:

• Forward – Samu Salminen, Denver, Sr.
• Defenseman – Shaun McEwen, Miami, Fr.
• Goaltender – Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, Sr.
• Rookie – Cole Reschny, North Dakota, F

Salminen secured his first career NCHC weekly honor in his last chance to earn one, while McEwen also picked up his first career NCHC award. Mbereko gloved his 11th career NCHC Goaltender of the Week nod in his final regular-season appearance, but it’s his first weekly honor of the season. Reschny garnered his first Rookie of the Week award, though he’s already twice been named NCHC Forward of the Week this season.

FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Samu Salminen, Denver
Senior Forward
Helsinki, Finland
 
Salminen stayed hot to finish the regular season, powering No. 7 Denver to a sweep of Arizona State. The senior scored two goals both nights against the Sun Devils, including three points in Friday’s 5-2 series-opening win. In that game, Salminen book-ended DU’s scoring, while handing out a primary assist on the Pioneers’ fourth goal early in the final frame. The next night in a 4-1 victory, the Finn tallied Denver’s first two goals to erase a 1-0 deficit, including scoring the unassisted game-winner in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Salminen earned Second Star of the Game on Friday night and First Star on Saturday.
 
Salminen finished the series with four goals and five points, both of which led the NCHC on the weekend. The New Jersey Devils draft pick also fired seven shots on goal, blocked two shots, won 12 faceoffs and posted a +5 plus/minus against ASU. This past weekend marked his fourth and fifth career multi-goal games, while he’s now riding a four-game point streak. On the season, Salminen has 26 points on nine goals and 17 assists, all ranking in the top five on the Pioneers squad.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Shaun McEwen, Miami
Freshman Defenseman
South Hadley, Mass.
 
McEwen had the best weekend of his young career to help the RedHawks clinch a Frozen Faceoff playoff spot, doubling his season point total in Miami’s split at Omaha. He recorded multiple points both nights, including the first two goals of his college career. On Friday, McEwen dished out assists on MU’s first two goals in a 5-3 defeat for his second multi-assist game. The next night, he book-ended the game’s scoring, opening with a power play goal early to put Miami in front, before sealing the win with a short-handed empty-netter. McEwen earned First Star of the Game on Saturday.
 
McEwen finished the series with two goals and two assists, with his four points and two goals leading all NCHC blueliners on the weekend. He also fired eight shots on goal at Omaha, including a career-high five on Friday, while playing on a penalty kill unit that went 11-for-13 on the weekend. In 33 games this season, McEwen now has eight points (2g/6a) after entering with four points all year.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College
Senior Goaltender
Aspen, Colo.
 
Mbereko continued his stellar play down the stretch, backstopping the Tigers to a 4-1 win at then-No. 9 Minnesota Duluth on Friday in his lone appearance of the weekend. He made a season-high 39 saves on 40 shots faced in the series opener, as CC was outshot, 40-19, in the contest. The Tigers captain turned aside 17 shots in the third period alone, including six on a pair of UMD power plays. Mbereko was named Second Star of the Game on Friday.
 
Friday’s game also marked Mbereko’s 127th career appearance for the Tigers, which ties the school record for games played by a goalie. He posted a .975 save percentage in the win at UMD to go with a 1.00 goals-against average, both of which led the NCHC on the weekend.  Mbereko finishes the regular season with a 12-12-4 record in 29 games, ranking third in the NCHC with a .915 save percentage to go with a 2.48 GAA.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Cole Reschny, North Dakota
Freshman Forward
Macklin, Sask.
 
Reschny recorded three points at No. 4 Western Michigan to wrap up a strong regular season, while helping No. 2 North Dakota clinch the Penrose Cup as NCHC champions. He opened the weekend with two assists in a 5-3 win to secure the regular-season title, helping set up UND’s first and final goals. The next night, the Calgary Flames draft pick tied the game at 3-3 late in the third period to force overtime in an eventual, 4-3 defeat.
 
Reschny finished the weekend with three points on a goal and two assists in Kalamazoo. He fired four shots on goal in the series, while posting a +3 plus/minus, including +2 in Friday’s win. He also won 10 faceoffs in the two games. On the season, Reschny now leads all NCHC freshmen with 31 points (5g/26a) in 30 games, while entering the playoffs on a five-game point streak (1g/5a).
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Forward of the Week
Matteo Giampa, Miami
Brandon Lisowsky, Colorado College
Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth
Ben Strinden, North Dakota
William Whitelaw, Western Michigan

Defenseman of the Week
Zach Bookman, Western Michigan
Sam Laurila, North Dakota
Mats Lindgren, Colorado College
Eric Pohlkamp, Denver

Goaltender of the Week
Johnny Hicks, Denver
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan

Rookie of the Week
Johnny Hicks, Denver, G
Sam Huck, Western Michigan, F
Brandon Lisowsky, Colorado College, F