The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for October 17-19 and four student-athletes from four different programs have been recognized. Josh Groll (Minnesota State) earned Forward of the Week honors, while Tynan Ewart (Northern Michigan) was the Defenseman of the Week. Josh Kotai (Augustana) collected the first weekly award in Vikings program history, being named Goaltender of the Week and William Ahlrik (Lake Superior State) was the Rookie of the Week.

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CCHA Forward of the Week: Josh Groll, Gr., Minnesota State (San Diego, Calif.)

Groll paced all CCHA skaters with three goals last week, helping then-No. 20 Minnesota State to a split with then-No. 5 North Dakota. For the week, he was a +4 with six shots on goal and one block at the defensive end of the ice. Scoring twice on Friday in a 3-2 defeat, he added his third tally on Saturday night in a 3-0 shutout win for the Mavericks.
 
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Tynan Ewart, So., Northern Michigan (Duncan, B.C.)

Ewart led CCHA blueliners with two points on the weekend, including a goal and an assist. Posting a +2 rating, he helped Northern Michigan to a split with Alaska Anchorage, totaling three shots on goal and seven blocks, which was good for second-most among all conference skaters. He set up the Wildcats’ first goal in a 2-1 win on Friday night, before scoring his first of the year on Saturday in a 5-3 loss.

CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Josh Kotai, So., Augustana (Abbotsford, B.C.)

Kotai went 2-0-0 with league-bests in goals-against average (0.50) and save percentage (.985) last week, leading the Vikings to a sweep of then-No. 12 Omaha. He totaled 67 stops on the weekend, including all nine while Augustana was shorthanded to help the penalty kill go 7-for-7. On Friday, he made 34 saves in a 2-1 victory, before posting his second career shutout in a 4-0 win on Saturday, turning away 33.

CCHA Rookie of the Week: William Ahlrik, Fr., Lake Superior State (Tidaholm, Sweden)

Ahlrik scored two goals, including a game-winner, to help Lake Superior State to a split with Stonehill last week. Posting a +2 rating on the week, he notched five shots on goal and won 62.5% of his face-offs. His weekend was highlighted by scoring twice on Saturday in a 3-0 Lakers victory, winning 8-of-12 draws. He opened the scoring in the later stages of the opening period and added an insurance tally late in the second.

Perry Laskaris 
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement 
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) 
Laskaris@ccha.com 
(651) 308-1065 

2024-25 CCHA Weekly Awards
 
Forward:
Oct. 21, 2024: Josh Groll (MSU)
Oct. 14, 2024: Carter Randklev (BSU)
Oct. 7, 2024: Brett Pfoh (BGSU)

Defenseman:
Oct. 21, 2024: Tynan Ewart (NMU)
Oct. 14, 2024: Mason Poolman (UST)
Oct. 7, 2024: Trevor Taulien (FSU)

Goaltender:
Oct. 21, 2024: Josh Kotai (AU)
Oct. 14, 2024: Max Vayrynen (MTU)
Oct. 7, 2024: Raythan Robbins (BSU)

Rookie:
Oct. 21, 2024: William Ahlrik (LSSU)
Oct. 14, 2024: Elias Jansson (MTU)
Oct. 7, 2024: Luke Ashton (MSU)

* = Times earned award this year