The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for October 16-18 and four student-athletes from three different programs have been recognized. Alex Gaffney (St. Thomas) was named Forward of the Week, while Hayden Hennen (Augustana) picked up Defenseman of the Week honors. Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) received his ninth career Goaltender of the Week award and Leo Bulgakov (Augustana) was the Rookie of the Week.
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Alex Gaffney, Gr., St. Thomas (West Orange, N.J.)
Gaffney recorded a league-best five points last week, scoring a nation-high three goals with two assists. Even for the weekend series split at Air Force, he had two power-play tallies and two blocked shots. On Friday, he had two goals and two assists for a game-high four points as the Tommies set a program record for goals in a game, topping the Falcons, 11-2. He then dished out one helper in a 6-2 loss on Saturday.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Hayden Hennen, Jr., Augustana (Hallock, Minn.)
Hennen paced CCHA blueliners with three points last week, scoring a goal two assists as the Vikings swept then-No. 15/16 Arizona State at Midco Arena. He was also a league-best +3, with five shots and three blocks defensively. On Friday, he set up Owen Bohn's tying goal, before assisting on Augustana's fourth goal of the game in a 4-2 win over the Sun Devils. He then scored a go-ahead goal in the second period of AU's 5-2 victory on Saturday, while blocking a game-high three shots.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Alex Tracy, Sr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.)
Tracy led conference netminders with 60 saves at No. 17 Wisconsin last week, going 0-0-2 with a 1.38 goals against average and a .952 save percentage - both best among two-start goalies. On Thursday, he turned away 29-of-30 shots in a 1-1 tie. He then stopped 31 Badgers' attempts on goal on Friday, including all 12 shots he saw in the third period, en route to a 2-2 draw.
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Leo Bulgakov, Fr., Augustana (Minsk, Belarus)
Bulgakov helped Augustana to a sweep of then-No. 15/16 Arizona State last weekend, scoring a goal and assisting on two more for three points, which was tops among conference rookies. On Friday night, he had goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory, before setting up a goal-ahead goal on a 5-2 Vikings triumph on Saturday. First among first-year CCHA skaters with a +3 rating on the week, he notched two shots on goal.
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)
Defenseman:
Oct. 6, 2025: Chase Cheslock (UST)
Oct. 13, 2025: Adam Barone (LSSU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Hayden Hennen (AU)
Goaltender:
Oct. 6, 2025: William Gramme (NMU)
Oct. 13, 2025: Hobie Hedquist (FSU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Rookie:
Oct. 6, 2025: Calem Mangone (LSSU)
Oct. 13, 2025: Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (NMU)
Oct. 20, 2025: Leo Bulgakov (AU)
* = Times earned award this year