NFL
By Jason Gulden
This journey began over the weekend of October 3rd and 4th 2025. After four months, the NCHC regular season concludes this weekend. There are still so many things to be decided before this weekend is over. Who wins the Penrose Cup? Will there be a co-champion this year? We do know that only 3 teams can win it. North Dakota, Western Michigan, or Denver. Those three teams are separated by 5 points.
Minnesota Duluth has secured home ice in the first round and will take on the 5th place seed. However, that’s the only seed that is set in stone in the NCHC playoffs as we head into the final weekend.
St. Cloud State can’t improve its point total this year as it will finish the regular season with 30 points. They will finish between 5th and 7th place.
We have Miami (OH), Colorado College, Arizona State, and Omaha, which are separated by 4 points. One of those teams will be packing their lockers up come Saturday evening, with their season coming to an end.
So, as you can see, this weekend will be very exciting in the NCHC, with a lot on the line.
Before we get to this weekend’s games, let’s look back at how we got to this point by recapping last weekend’s games. As well as the rankings, players of the week, and the final recap of the Olympics for our NCHC players
Last Weekend
Minnesota Duluth swept Miami (OH) with scores of 5-2 and 4-1.
Omaha and Arizona State, battling for the 8th seed last weekend, each won one game. Omaha would win Friday night by the score of 4-2 to take over the 8th seed. Arizona State returned Saturday night and won 6-3 to regain the 8th seed.
North Dakota could have won the Penrose Cup last weekend if it had swept St. Cloud State in regulation. However, they only won one game in regulation, on Saturday night with a 6-4 victory. Teams skated to a 4-4 tie on Friday with St. Cloud State earning the extra point in the shootout.
Western Michigan and Colorado College played in a series that was big for both teams. Western was looking to get closer to North Dakota with a sweep, and Colorado College was hoping to be able to catch Minnesota Duluth with a sweep.
Unfortunately for both teams, neither of which happened. In a weekend dominated by the goalies for both teams, Western would get the victory on Saturday night by the score of 2-0. The previous night, the teams would skate to a 1-1 tie with Western Michigan, earning the extra point in the shootout.
Rankings
The rankings in the USCHO poll stayed the same as last week. North Dakota is #3. Western Michigan is #4. Denver is #8, and Minnesota Duluth is #9.
Looking at this week’s Bracketology, Minnesota Duluth is currently the #2 seed in the Albany region.
Western Michigan is the top seed in the Worcester region and the 4th seed overall.
Denver is the 3rd seed in the Loveland region.
North Dakota is the #1 seed and #3 overall in the Sioux Falls region.
As you can see, things in these regions can change each week. As I have said, the only team locked in a region is Denver, as they are hosting the Loveland region.
Players of the Week
Even though we have one more weekend left in the month, I think it’s safe to say who the Defenseman of the Month will be. If you have read the previous articles this month, it has been the same person. For the 3rd straight week, Abram Wiebe from North Dakota wins Defenseman of the Week. He would become only the 2nd blueliner in NCHC history to win the award 3 straight weeks. The previous time was during the 2014-2015 season.
Abram this week had 4 points, tallying a goal and three assists.
The Forward of the Week goes to Cruz Lucius of Arizona State. This is his first career NCHC weekly award. He had a monster weekend in the final home games of his collegiate career. He tallied three goals and had four assists.
The Goaltender of the Week goes to Western Michigan Hampton Slukynsky. This would be his 5th time this season winning the award. He finished the weekend against Colorado College, stopping 56 of the 57 shots he faced. He was the lone NCHC goaltender this weekend to log a shutout.
The Rookie of the Week goes to Minnesota Duluth Hunter Anderson. He would have 2 goals and 2 assists for the Bulldogs in their sweep of Miami (OH). This was his first NCHC weekly award in his young career.
What 4 players will win the final regular-season Players of the Week award? Come back next week to find out.
This weekend
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, this is the last weekend of the NCHC regular season, and a lot of things are on the line.
Miami (OH) is traveling to Omaha. In mid-January, these teams faced off in Miami (OH), with Miami (OH) taking both games. Will Omaha return the favor this weekend with their season on the line?
Arizona State travels to Denver to take on the Pioneers. In late November, these two teams faced off down in Arizona, with each team winning one game. Will we see the same thing this weekend, or will one team control this weekend and earn the sweep?
Colorado College travels to Minnesota Duluth. These two teams also faced off in late November in Colorado. They would split the series in Colorado, with Colorado College’s victory coming in overtime.
This is a big series for Colorado College, as Minnesota Duluth can’t improve or hurt its seed this weekend. If possible, Colorado College needs to sweep this weekend but at least needs one win to lock into a spot in the NCHC first round of the playoffs. This series very well could be a preview of the first round of the playoffs.
The last series this weekend is a big one at the top of the standings. We have #1 vs #2, and the Penrose Cup is on the line. North Dakota welcomes Western Michigan to Grand Forks. This is the only matchup during the regular season between these two powerhouses.
Olympics
Since we last talked last week, two of our NCHC teams had alums or current players on their rosters. Team Slovakia had current Minnesota Duluth goaltender Adam Gajan, and Team USA had 4 alums.
On Friday, February 20th, Slovakia and the USA faced off for a berth in the gold medal game on the line. Once again, Adam Gajan didn’t dress for Team Slovakia. USA would win the game 6-2. Slovakia would then go on to play Finland and in the bronze medal game. Slovakia would fall 6-1. Adam Gajan didn’t play again. He returns to Minnesota Duluth this weekend, having not played since January 31st.
Team USA, after beating Slovakia, would go on to the gold medal game against Canada. The USA would win gold with a 2-1 overtime victory. None of the 4 USA, NCHC players scored a point in the medal round.
Jake Guentzel from Omaha would finish with 1 goal. Brock Nelson from North Dakota would finish with 2 goals and 1 assist. Jake Sanderson, also from North Dakota, would finish with 2 assists. Jaccob Slavin from Colorado College would finish with 1 assist. All the points for those guys came in the pool play of the Olympics.
With the Olympics being over now, I just want to congratulate the 8 NCHC players for representing the NCHC proudly over in Milano Cortina, Italy.
Closing
Hardware is on the line this weekend. Who will come out on top? Will it be North Dakota, Western Michigan, or Denver? If there’s ever a weekend this season that’s a must-watch, it’s this one. So, as I always say, grab your favorite beverage, your favorite snack, sit in your comfy chair, and tune into the FINAL NCHC regular-season weekend taking place on Friday and Saturday.
I’ll be back with you guys’ next week to recap all the action around the NCHC and look ahead to the best-of-3 first round of the playoffs starting next weekend. Talk to you then.
