The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is pleased to announce its weekly award winners, released on January 5, 2026, for games played from January 2 – January 4. The UCHC weekly awards program highlights the top performances from around the conference over each week of the regular season. It is the seventh UCHC weekly honors release of the 2025-26 season.
UCHC MEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Caden Pendo, Chatham, Fr., D, Monongahela, PA
Pendo collected six points across Chatham's two dominant victories at SUNY Morrisville over the weekend. On Saturday, he earned two assists in the 4-1 win. In Sunday's 7-4 victory, Pendo scored four points on a goal and three assists, including the game-winning, short-handed goal in the final seconds of the opening period and added three assists in the victory.
UCHC WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Anna Lugge, Elmira, Jr., F, Freeburg, IL
Lugge led Elmira to a key 5-4 overtime win over No. 12 SUNY Plattsburgh in the semifinal of the East/West Classic hosted by Norwich University on Sunday. Lugge recorded four points on two goals and two assists in the win, including scoring the game-tying goal in the third period and assisting on Iliana Smith’s overtime winner. Lugge, who was plus-3 in the win, also recorded six shots on goal, one block, and was 7-of-14 on face-offs.
UCHC MEN’S GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – William Billequey, Manhattanville, Jr., G, Montreal, Quebec
Billequey led the Valiants to their first win of the season in their return from winter break on Saturday with 38 saves in a 5-0 shutout win on the road over New England College. He stopped 17 first period shots, nine in the second period and 12 more in the third to blank the Pilgrims, tying his second highest save total of the season. The win marked the second shutout of Billequey’s career and the first since January 2025.
UCHC WOMEN’S GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Mia Gonsalves, Nazareth, Fr., G, Boston, MA
Gonsalves helped lead No. 5 Nazareth to a 2-1 win over Salve Regina University on Sunday, stopping 17-of-18 shots to improve to 12-0-0 this season. She made six first period shots, four more in the second period and seven in the third period to help protect the lead as the No. 5 Golden Flyers remained unblemished in 2025-26.
UCHC MEN’S CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Sal Cerrato, Utica, Fr., D, St. Louis, MO
Cerrato showed off his stellar playmaking this past weekend as the Pioneers started off 2026 with a pair of non-conference victories. He shored up the blue line in stunning fashion, helping hold both Neumann and SUNY Canton to just a single goal while also piling up five assists and was plus-4 over the two-game set. He racked up three assists and was plus-3 in a 4-1 win over Neumann on Saturday and added two more helpers against SUNY Canton on Sunday. He also recorded three blocks, getting it done on both ends for the No. 14 Pioneers.
UCHC MEN’S CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Ian Norkevicus, Chatham, Fr., D, Pittsburgh, PA
Norkevicus recorded five points on a goal and four assists and was plus-4, as Chatham began 2026 with two road wins at SUNY Morrisville, winning by scores of 5-1 and 7-4. In Saturday's victory, he recorded an assist on the eventual game-winning goal. In Sunday's win, he recorded a short-handed goal, three assists and was plus-4 to help guide the Cougars to a 7-4 victory.
UCHC WOMEN’S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Victoria Battaglia, Hilbert, Fr., F, Brampton, Ontario
Battaglia led the Hawks with two goals and an assist during the weekend series at Neumann. She had all three points and was plus-2 in Friday’s contest, a 5-4 defeat. Battaglia also added 11 shots on goal, three blocks, and 22 faceoff wins over the weekend. It is Battaglia’s second UCHC weekly honor of the season.