Colorado College sophomore netminder Kaidan Mbereko has been named the NCHC Goaltender of the Month for the third month in a row.

Mbereko continued his stellar play while backstopping CC to a 3-2-1 record in February.

The Aspen native led the NCHC with a .939 save percentage and 168 saves during the month, averaging 28.00 saves per game. His 1.79 goals-against average was second in the NCHC in February, while he allowed two goals or fewer in five of his six starts and no more than three in any game, with all six games coming against ranked competition.

Mbereko eased into February with back-to-back 22-save showings in a split against then-No. 16 St. Cloud State, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision on Feb. 2 and earning a 5-3 win the next night. Two weekends later, Mbereko was even better, totaling 66 saves and surrendering only three goals in a sweep of then-No. 2 North Dakota to earn NCHC Goaltender of the Week. He then made 23 saves in a 7-1 win on Feb. 16, before making a career-high 43 stops against UND in a 6-2 victory a night later. Mbereko closed February with a bang as well, giving up only three goals in a series at then-No. 19 Omaha, while racking up 58 saves, including 41 stops in a 1-1 tie to close the series Feb. 24.

On the season, Mbereko leads the NCHC with a .920 save percentage, which ties for 11th nationally, while ranking second in the NCHC with a 2.37 GAA. His 814 saves on the year are also tops in the NCHC. Mbereko has compiled an 18-10-2 record in net this year, with the 18 wins tied for second in the conference.

Back home, Mbereko played for the Aspen Leafs and Rocky Mountain Snow Kings.

Photo/Casey B. Gibson

(March 1, 2024)