The NCHC has announced that Colorado College freshman goaltender Kaidan Mbereko is the NCHC Rookie of the Month.

Mbereko completed his freshman campaign strong, backstopping Colorado College to a playoff upset on the road and the Frozen Faceoff championship game. He posted a 3-1-0 record in five starts in March, including a career-best three-game winning streak, while leading the NCHC with both a .942 save percentage and a 1.57 GAA in the month. Mbereko compiled 114 saves in March with one shutout.

The Aspen native started his postseason run with 25 saves in a 3-1 win at No. 7 Western Michigan to open the NCHC quarterfinals on March 10. A night later, he made 28 saves in a 3-2 overtime win at WMU to give CC its first road playoff sweep in program history. Mbereko then finished his season with back-to-back 23-save outings at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. In the semifinals on March 17, he blanked rival and No. 3 Denver for CC’s first win over DU in 12 tries, a 1 -0 victory. In the championship game a night later against No. 7 St. Cloud State, the Tigers run came to an end with a 3-0 defeat.

Mbereko finished his freshman season with a 9-16-2 record in 30 games, while leading the NCHC and ranking fifth nationally with a .925 save percentage. He posted a 2.30 GAA on the year, while his four shutouts this season tied for the NCHC lead. Mbereko was also named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and Second-Team All-NCHC this season.

During his youth hockey days in Colorado, Mbereko played for the Aspen Leafs and Rocky Mountain Snow Kings.

Photo/Casey B. Gibson

(April 3, 2023)