The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for February 26-28 and four student-athletes from four different programs have been recognized. Ben Doran (Bowling Green) was named Forward of the Week, while Valtteri Piironen (Ferris State) was the Defenseman of the Week. Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) picked up his sixth Goaltender of the Week this season and Max Hildebrand (Bemidji State) claimed his third Rookie of the Week honor.
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Ben Doran, Jr., Bowling Green (Chesterfield, Mo.)
Doran led Bowling Green to a five-point road weekend against then-No. 16 Michigan Tech, recording two assists, including one on the Falcons' overtime-winner on Saturday night. For the series, he was a +2 with three shots on goal, while averaging 22:12 minutes per game, which was third-highest among conference forwards. In the face-off circle he won 54.1% of his draws.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Valtteri Piironen, Sr., Ferris State (Pyhäselkä, Finland)
Piironen paced CCHA skaters with four points last week, dishing our four helpers in Ferris State's split at Lake Superior State to close out the regular season. On the weekend, he was a +4 with two shots on goal and four blocks defensively. He averaged 19:41 minutes across the Bulldogs two contests. On Friday, he assisted on four of the Bulldogs five goals in a 5-2 win over the Lakers. He then was even with two shots in a 2-2 tie on Saturday.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Alex Tracy, Sr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.)
Tracy produced a nation-leading 0.96 goals-against average last week to go along with a .953 save percentage, which was good for first in the CCHA and fifth in the country. He went 1-0-1 against Northern Michigan, stopping 41-of-43 shots, including all 20 he faced on Saturday, helping then-No. 18 Minnesota State clinch its 10th MacNaughton Cup title.
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Max Hildebrand, Fr., Bemidji State
Hildebrand went 1-0-1 last week against then-No. 17 St. Thomas at home, posting a 1.44 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. Registering his first collegiate assist on Saturday, he turned away 59-of-62 shots for the series. On Friday, he notched 31 saves in a 3-1 Beavers victory. He then had 27 in a 2-2 tie on Saturday night.
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)
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)
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)******
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)***
* = Times earned award this year