The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for March 6-8 and four student-athletes from three different programs have been recognized. Colton Friesen (Augustana) was named Forward of the Week, while Tyler Miller (Michigan Tech) was the Defenseman of the Week. Josh Kotai (Augustana) picked up his fifth Goaltender of the Week this season and Lucas Van Vliet (St. Thomas) claimed his fourth Rookie of the Week honor.
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Colton Friesen, Sr., Augustana (Winnipeg, Man.)
Friesen paced CCHA skaters with four points during the Mason Cup Quarterfinals, scoring two goals with two assists in Augustana's series win over Bemidji State. Posting a +5 rating, he notched five shots on goal and blocked one defensively. Winning 6-of-10 face-offs, he averaged 17:27 minutes across the two contests. On Friday, he recorded one goal and two assists for three points in a 5-2 Vikings win. He then scored the opening goal in 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Tyler Miller, So., Michigan Tech (Medicine Hat, Alta.)
Miller led conference blueliners with three points last week, dishing out three assists in Michigan Tech Mason Cup Quarterfinal series victory over Bowling Green. Leading league defensemen in plus-minus (+4), he recorded one shot and one block, while averaging 18:45 minutes per game. On Friday, he had three helpers in a 5-3 Huskies victory. He then posted a +2 rating in a 3-2 series-clinching 3-2 win on Saturday.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Josh Kotai, Jr., Augustana (Abbotsford, B.C.)
Kotai went 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a league-high .961 save percentage, leading the Vikings to a Mason Cup Quarterfinal series win over Bemidji State. Stopping 73-of-76 shots on the weekend, he had one assist and totaled 120:00 minutes. On Friday, he turned away 31 Beavers shots in a 5-2 win. He then notched 42 saves in a 2-1 victory on Saturday night, matching a season-high.
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Lucas Van Vliet, Fr., St. Thomas (Livonia, Mich.)
Van Vliet led CCHA rookies with two goals last week, helping St. Thomas win its Mason Cup Quarterfinal series against Lake Superior State. He was a +1 with a rookie-best 11 shots, while blocking one shot defensively. On Friday, he had one block in a 4-3 Tommies overtime win. He then netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner in a 5-2 victory on Saturday.
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065
2025-26 CCHA Weekly Awards
Forward:
Oct. 6, 2025: Adam Flammang (BSU)
Oct. 13, 2025: Gavin Best (FSU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Alex Gaffney (UST)
Oct. 27, 2025: Stiven Sardarian (MTU)
Nov. 3, 2025: William Ahlrik (LSSU)
Nov. 10, 2025: Stiven Sardarian (MTU)**
Nov. 17, 2025: Noah Morneau (BGSU)
Nov. 24, 2025: Connor McClennon (BSU)
Dec. 1, 2025: Tristan Lemyre (MSU)
Dec. 8, 2025: Caiden Gault (NMU)
Dec. 15, 2025: Lucas Wahlin (UST)
Dec. 30, 2025: Stiven Sardarian (MTU)***
Jan. 5, 2026: Tyler Hotson (BGSU)
Jan. 12, 2026: Max Koskipirtti (MTU)
Jan. 20, 2026: Lucas Wahlin (UST)**
Jan. 26, 2026: Stiven Sardarian (MTU)****
Feb. 2, 2026: Quinn Emerson (BGSU)
Feb. 9, 2026: Oliver Peer (BSU)
Feb. 17, 2026: Tyler Schleppe (FSU)
Feb. 23, 2026: Calem Mangone (LSSU)
Mar. 2, 2026: Ben Doran (BGSU)
Mar. 9, 2026: Colton Friesen (AU)
Defenseman:
Oct. 6, 2025: Chase Cheslock (UST)
Oct. 13, 2025: Adam Barone (LSSU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Hayden Hennen (AU)
Oct. 27, 2025: Evan Murr (MSU)
Nov. 3, 2025: Hudson Thornton (BSU)
Nov. 10, 2025: Mitch Wolfe (BSU)
Nov. 17, 2025: Evan Murr (MSU)**
Nov. 24, 2025: Christopher Lie (FSU)
Dec. 1, 2025: Nick WIlliams (UST)
Dec. 8, 2025: Breck McKinley (BGSU)
Dec. 15, 2025: Ralfs Bergmanis (MSU)
Dec. 30, 2025: Easton Young (AU)
Jan. 5, 2026: Jack Anderson (MTU)
Jan. 12, 2026: Jack Mesic (FSU)
Jan. 20, 2026: Luca Fasciano (MTU)
Jan. 26, 206: Jackson Niedermayer (BGSU)
Feb. 2, 2026: Jack Anderson (MTU)**
Feb. 9, 2026: Jack Anderson (MTU)***
Feb. 17, 2026: Jack Anderson (MTU)****
Feb. 23, 2026: Easton Young (AU)**
Mar. 2, 2026: Valtteri Piironen (FSU)
Mar. 9, 2026: Tyler Miller (MTU)
Goaltender:
Oct. 6, 2025: William Gramme (NMU)
Oct. 13, 2025: Hobie Hedquist (FSU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Oct. 27, 2025: Owen Bartoszkiewicz (MTU)
Nov. 3, 2025: Josh Kotai (AU)
Nov. 10, 2025: Owen Bartoszkiewicz (MTU)**
Nov. 17, 2025: Alex Tracy (MSU)**
Nov. 24, 2025: Alex Tracy (MSU)***
Dec. 1, 2025: Alex Tracy (MSU)****
Dec. 8, 2025: Carsen Musser (UST)
Dec. 15, 2025: Owen Bartoszkiewicz (MTU)***
Dec. 30, 2025: Owen Bartoszkiewicz (MTU)****
Jan. 5, 2026: Rorke Applebee (LSSU)
Jan. 12, 2026: Josh Kotai (AU)**
Jan. 20, 2026: Owen Bartoszkiewicz (MTU)*****
Jan. 26, 206: Aaron Trotter (UST)
Feb. 2, 2026: Josh Kotai (AU)***
Feb. 9, 2026: Jacob Steinman (BGSU)
Feb. 17, 2026: Alex Tracy (MSU) *****
Feb. 23, 2026: Josh Kotai (AU)****
Mar. 2, 2026: Alex Tracy (MSU)******
Mar. 9, 2026: Josh Kotai (AU)*****
Rookie:
Oct. 6, 2025: Calem Mangone (LSSU)
Oct. 13, 2025: Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (NMU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Leo Bulgakov (AU)
Oct. 27, 2025: Max Hildebrand (BSU)
Nov. 3, 2025: Teydon Trembecky (MTU)
Nov. 10, 2025: Noah Morneau (BGSU)
Nov. 17, 2025: Dominik Rymon (BGSU)
Nov. 24, 2025: Lucas Van Vliet (UST)
Dec. 1, 2025: Lucas Van Vliet (UST)**
Dec. 8, 2025: Nathan Pilling (UST)
Dec. 15, 2025: Jacob Jastrzebski (AU)
Dec. 30, 2025: Leo Bulgakov (AU)**
Jan. 5, 2026: Hayes Hundley (UST)
Jan. 12, 2026: Ty Higgins (BGSU)
Jan. 20, 2026: Lucas Van Vliet (UST)***
Jan. 26, 2026: Nathan Pilling (UST)**
Feb. 2, 2026: Reid Morich (MSU)
Feb. 9, 2026: Nathan Pilling (UST)***
Feb. 17, 2026: Max Hildebrand (BSU)**
Feb. 23, 2026: Calem Mangone (LSSU)**
Mar. 2, 2026: Max Hildebrand (BSU)***
Mar. 9, 2026: Lucas Van Vliet (UST)****
* = Times earned award this year