Denver Hockey Players Rudolph and Hicks Earn NCHC Weekly Honors

Denver Hockey Players Rudolph and Hicks Earn NCHC Weekly Honors

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Daxon Rudolph scored his first career overtime goal on Sunday to help the University of Denver secure a 1-0 victory over Arizona State, a performance that helped secure both him and goaltender Johnny Hicks weekly conference honors, denverpioneers.com reported.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced Tuesday that the two Pioneers were named Defenseman of the Week and Goaltender of the Week, respectively. This recognition follows a decisive weekend sweep of the Sun Devils, where Denver claimed a 6-3 win on Friday before the overtime thriller on Sunday.

For Rudolph, the freshman from Lacombe, Alberta, the accolades mark a significant personal milestone. While he has already been named NCHC Rookie of the Week twice during the 2026-27 season—including last week—this serves as his first career Defenseman of the Week award.

Rudolph is not merely participating in the Pioneers’ defensive rotation; he is driving their offensive production from the back end. He currently leads all Denver defensemen in scoring and holds the second-highest point total on the entire squad with 12 points.

Denver Hockey Players Rudolph and Hicks Earn NCHC Weekly Honors

His statistical profile reveals a high-volume offensive threat. Rudolph leads the team with six goals, four of which came on the power play, and he has recorded three game-winning markers. He also leads the Pioneers in shot attempts, pacing the team with 43 shots on goal this season.

During the weekend series, Rudolph’s efficiency was on full display. On Friday, he recorded his first multi-goal game and his fourth multi-point performance of the season, including the game-winning goal.

While Rudolph provided the scoring punch, Johnny Hicks provided the stability required to win a tight defensive battle. The sophomore from Kamloops, British Columbia, earned his second career Goaltender of the Week honor after a dominant weekend performance.

Hicks’ weekend stats highlight a goaltender in peak form. He stopped 21 of 24 shots during Friday’s 6-3 win and was perfect on Sunday, turning aside all 28 shots to secure the 1-0 overtime shutout. This marked the first shutout of the season for the Pioneers and the fourth of Hicks’ career.

The underlying numbers for Hicks suggest a historic start to the 2026-27 campaign. He currently holds a 5-0-0 record with a 1.40 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.

Perhaps most impressive is Hicks’ durability and consistency. He remains unbeaten in 22 straight decisions to begin his career, holding a 21-0-1 record. His current winning streak has reached 18 contests, dating back to the previous season.

This recent overtime victory mirrors a specific moment in his development. On Jan. 31, 2026, during his first career start against Minnesota Duluth, Hicks also secured a 1-0 overtime win.

The weekly honors extended beyond the Denver roster. St. Thomas’ Lucas Van Vliet was selected as the league’s Forward of the Week, while Gavin Hodnett of Omaha took home the Rookie of the Week title. Denver senior Sam Harris was also recognized as a finalist for the top forward honor.

The Pioneers now shift their focus back to Magness Arena. Denver is scheduled to host the Lindenwood Lions this coming weekend, with games set for Friday at 7 p.m. MT and Saturday at 6 p.m. MT. Both matchups will be available via NCHC.tv, with the Friday contest receiving regional television coverage on Altitude.

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