Photo by: Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative Photography
11/3/2026 11:30:00 AM | #4 Ice Hockey
DU hockey defenseman earns his second such honor of the season
DENVER – Daxon Rudolph of the Denver Pioneers hockey team was named on Tuesday the NCHC Rookie of the Week by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
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Rudolph picks up his second career top rookie award from the league after also earning the honor earlier this season on Oct. 6 following a five-point opening weekend at Alaska Anchorage (1g/4a).
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The Lacombe, Alberta, native combined for two points, 12 shots and four blocks in the Pioneers' series sweep of Omaha last weekend. He had five shots, two blocks and two penalty minutes on Friday in DU's 2-1 win. The freshman then recorded his third multi-point game of the season on Saturday with a power-play goal and an assist while also registering two blocks and matching a team-season high with seven shots in the 4-1 victory.
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Rudolph is tied for first on the Pioneers with nine points through eight games, while his three goals are one off the team lead. He also paces the squad with 15 blocked shots and has added six penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.
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Joining the DU freshman on the weekly list from the NCHC is a pair of Western Michigan players with William Whitelan being named Forward of the Week and Joona Vaisanen being selected as Defenseman of the Week. St. Thomas' Will Ingemann was chosen as the league's Goaltender of the Week.
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UP NEXT: Denver heads to the desert this weekend as the team continues its NCHC schedule with a matchup at Arizona State. The squads face off on Friday at 7 p.m. MT and Sunday in a 12 p.m. MT matinee at Mullett Arena. Both games will be broadcast on Altitude Sports and NCHC.tv.
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TICKETS: Single-game tickets as well as mini plans and group packages for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.
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Rudolph picks up his second career top rookie award from the league after also earning the honor earlier this season on Oct. 6 following a five-point opening weekend at Alaska Anchorage (1g/4a).
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The Lacombe, Alberta, native combined for two points, 12 shots and four blocks in the Pioneers' series sweep of Omaha last weekend. He had five shots, two blocks and two penalty minutes on Friday in DU's 2-1 win. The freshman then recorded his third multi-point game of the season on Saturday with a power-play goal and an assist while also registering two blocks and matching a team-season high with seven shots in the 4-1 victory.
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Rudolph is tied for first on the Pioneers with nine points through eight games, while his three goals are one off the team lead. He also paces the squad with 15 blocked shots and has added six penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.
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Joining the DU freshman on the weekly list from the NCHC is a pair of Western Michigan players with William Whitelan being named Forward of the Week and Joona Vaisanen being selected as Defenseman of the Week. St. Thomas' Will Ingemann was chosen as the league's Goaltender of the Week.
Â
UP NEXT: Denver heads to the desert this weekend as the team continues its NCHC schedule with a matchup at Arizona State. The squads face off on Friday at 7 p.m. MT and Sunday in a 12 p.m. MT matinee at Mullett Arena. Both games will be broadcast on Altitude Sports and NCHC.tv.
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TICKETS: Single-game tickets as well as mini plans and group packages for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.
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 Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
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Players Mentioned
Defenseman
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Friday, October 30
