NCDC Stars of the Week: Sept. 25–27, 2026

The NCDC has announced its Stars of the Week for the opening weekend of the 2026–27 season. One forward, defenseman and goaltender was selected from each of the league’s seven conferences. 

Atlantic Conference

Forward: Caleb Rashleigh, WBS Knights (3 GP, 5-1-6)
Rashleigh scored five goals in the Knights’ first three games and accounted for two game-winning goals. His six points tied for the team lead, while his finishing made the difference in key moments.

Defenseman: Carter Morrison, WBS Knights (3 GP, 1-2-3)
Morrison recorded a goal and two assists from the blue line across three games. His goal was a game winner, giving WBS production at both ends of the ice during its opening weekend.

Goaltender: Rakhymbek Rakhymzhan, WBS Knights (3 GP, 3-0, .942 SV%, 1.33 GAA)
Rakhymzhan won all three of his starts, stopping 65 of 69 shots. He allowed just four goals across the weekend while backstopping WBS to a 3-0 start.

Honorable mentions: Marko Lisica, Algirdas Jaras and Steve Amaro (P.A.L. Jr. Islanders); Maksym Pastukh and Alessandro Capano (Rockets Hockey Club); Beaudy Beaudin, Cam Ross and Xavier Lanctot (Mercer Chiefs)

 

Colonial Conference

Forward: Joe Maffia, Springfield Pics (3 GP, 4-1-5)
Maffia scored four goals and added an assist over Springfield’s three games. His weekend included two power-play goals and a game winner, with his coach highlighting a three-goal third period in his junior debut.

Defenseman: Samuel Zeman, Springfield Pics (3 GP, 0-4-4)
Zeman supplied four assists in three games, including a power-play assist. His production from the blue line helped drive Springfield’s offense throughout the opening weekend.

Goaltender: Vincent Labelle, Vermont Universal (1 GP, 1-0, .972 SV%, 1.00 GAA)
Labelle stopped 35 of 36 shots in Vermont’s Sept. 25 win over the Red Bank Generals. His coach credited him with key third-period saves that protected the lead and secured the victory.

Honorable mentions: Jack Magill and Michael Gregoire (Syracuse Lightning); Danny Angelina (Springfield Pics); Nick Ferrari, Roger Williams and Steven Louiselle (New York Dynamo); Jason Maltais and Felix Maltais (Vermont Universal)

 

Metropolitan Conference

Forward: Sawyer Graubins, South Shore Kings (2 GP, 5-2-7)
Graubins opened his junior career with five goals and two assists as South Shore won twice. His coach praised his speed in transition, creativity off the rush and quick release during a seven-point debut weekend.

Defenseman: William Berube, New England Wolves (3 GP, 0-6-6)
Berube recorded six assists in three games, the strongest offensive total among Metropolitan defensemen. He contributed to the Wolves’ attack throughout their opening weekend.

Goaltender: Michael Karo, Boston Jr. Terriers (1 GP, 1-0, .971 SV%, 1.00 GAA)
Karo stopped 33 of 34 shots in a victory over the Boston Jr. Bruins. His coach credited him with battling for every puck and playing a major role in the Terriers’ win.

Honorable mentions: Austin Westergaard and Tyler Brandl (Boston Jr. Terriers); Drew Jensen and Roberts Kravalis (South Shore Kings); Kaine Otterbacher, Pavel Jirku and Ray Leblanc (Islanders Hockey Club); Nick Kondub (Boston Jr. Rangers); Lance Roberts, Max Kallio and Jasper Brophy (Northern Cyclones)

 

Midwest Conference

Forward: Mikko Brown, Hudson Havoc (2 GP, 3-6-9)
Brown led the NCDC scoring sheet with three goals and six assists in two games. He also scored a game winner, combining high-end production with the competitive play his coach highlighted in the nomination.

Defenseman: Nicholas Huselius Leven, Hudson Havoc (2 GP, 1-3-4)
Huselius Leven recorded a goal and three assists in two games. His goal was a game winner, making him the Midwest’s top-producing defenseman during opening weekend.

Goaltender: Mason Kelm, Minnesota Blue Ox (1 GP, 1-0, 1.000 SV%, 0.00 GAA)
Kelm stopped all 45 shots he faced to earn a shutout in his first NCDC game. His coach called him the game’s first star after the Blue Ox relied on him throughout the victory.

Honorable mentions: Carson Wendorff and Tyler Nordaune (Hudson Havoc); Colin Murphy, Daniel Radkevich and Vojtech Sekanina (Chicago Union); Joshua Granowicz (Toledo Cherokee); Quinn Andrews and Jackson Dahl (Minnesota Blue Ox)

 

Northeast Conference

Forward: Grant Levins, Northern Maine Pioneers (3 GP, 4-1-5)
Levins scored four goals and added an assist across Northern Maine’s three opening-weekend games. His five points tied for the team lead, while his four goals were the most by a Pioneers player.

Defenseman: Matthew McLeod, St. Stephen County Moose (2 GP, 1-2-3)
McLeod contributed a goal and two assists in two games, leading the conference’s nominated defensemen in points.

Goaltender: Pavel Zaitsev, Woodstock Warriors (1 GP, 1-0, .972 SV%, 1.00 GAA)
Zaitsev made 35 saves on 36 shots in Woodstock’s home opener against the Northern Maine Pioneers. His coach praised his composure and the difficult saves he made to keep the Warriors in position to win.

Honorable mentions: Yan Krasavin and Mathius Sprickman (Woodstock Warriors); Jagger Dalton, Jonah Thomas and JungSoo Park (Thunder Hockey Club); Trevor Ponath and Kyle Karwowski (St. Stephen County Moose); Charles Martel, Alexandre Alhaj and Carlo Giordani (Quebec Universal)

 

South Conference

Forward: Alexey Rupi, Coral Springs Jr. Cats (2 GP, 1-4-5)
Rupi produced a goal and four assists in two games, including a game-winning goal against the Florida Eels. His coach also credited him with a plus-5 weekend and praised the pace and puck battles behind his five-point performance.

Defenseman: Esen Gendunov, Potomac Patriots (2 GP, 1-4-5)
Gendunov recorded a goal and four assists in two games, the South’s highest point total among defensemen. His five-point start gave Potomac a major offensive contribution from the blue line.

Goaltender: Jacob Janosko, Charlotte Rush (2 GP, 2-0, .934 SV%, 2.00 GAA)
Janosko won both of his starts and stopped 57 of 61 shots. Charlotte’s coach credited his timely saves and steady play with giving the Rush confidence through their two-win weekend.

Honorable mentions: Jaeger Johannes and Patrick Sweeney (Charlotte Rush); Justin Morrissey, Evan Perrucci and Koen Webber (Typhoon Hockey Club); Cameron Stehle, Brody Greenwood and Kai Salmon (Carolina Jr. Hurricanes); Geon Park and Charles Wahren (Florida Surge)

 

West Conference

Forward: Marc Belanger, Ontario Jr. Reign (2 GP, 3-1-4)
Belanger scored three goals and added an assist in two games, including a game winner. His coach praised both his scoring in key moments and his leadership during Ontario’s opening weekend.

Defenseman: Andrew Brown, Park City Outliers (2 GP, 2-4-6)
Brown led West defensemen with two goals and four assists in two games. His six-point weekend included a power-play goal and two power-play assists.

Goaltender: Filip Holmstrom, Vernal Oilers (1 GP, 1-0, .912 SV%, 3.00 GAA)
Holmstrom stopped 31 of 34 shots to earn a victory in his opening start for Vernal.

Honorable mentions: William Bostrom, Omar Kimonen and Ville Heikkinen (Fresno Monsters); Oliver Waller, Sean Pollock and James Tarabocchia (Casper Warbirds)