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Kaidan Mbereko

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Kaidan Mbereko
Born (2003-07-28) July 28, 2003 (age 21)
Aspen, Colorado, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 285 lb (129 kg; 20 st 5 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NCAA team Colorado College

Kaidan Mbereko (born July 28, 2003) is an American college ice hockey goaltender for Colorado College of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Playing career

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Mbereko spent one season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2021–22 season, he posted an 18–11–3 record, with a 3.01 goals against average (GAA) and .898 save percentage. He tied for sixth in the USHL with 18 victories and ranekd 12th in save percentage.[1]

Mbereko began his collegiate career for Colorado College during the 2022–23 season.[2] During his freshman year he appeared in 30 games with 29 starts, and posted a 9–16–2 record, with a 2.30 GAA and .925 save percentage. He led the NCAA among freshmen goaltenders and ranked fifth overall with a .925 save percentage. Mbereko had the NCHC's best save percentage (.925), while his goals against average (2.30) was tied for third in the conference. Following the season, he was named to the All-NCHC Rookie Team and All-NCHC Second Team.[3]

During the 2023–24 season, in his sophomore year, he started all 37 games and posted a 21–13–3 record, with a 2.40 GAA and .915 save percentage. During conference play, Mbereko made 24 starts and posted a 14–8–2 record, with his 14 wins tying for first in the conference. He led the NCHC with a 2.15 GAA and a .927 save percentage. He became the second player in NCHC history to receive three consecutive monthly awards as he was named NCHC goaltender of the month for December, January, and February. During the month of February, he posted a 3–2–1 record and led the NCHC with a .939 save percentage and 168 saves, and ranked second in the NCHC with a 1.79 GAA. 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 opponents.[4] He was also named HCA National Goaltender of the Month for February 2024.[5] Following an outstanding season he named the NCHC Goaltender of the Year, and a unanimous All-NCHC First Team selection.[1] He was also named an AHCA West First Team All-American and a top-three finalist for the Mike Richter Award.[6][7]

Personal life

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Mbereko was born to Isaac and Lauren Mbereko and has one brother, Zak.[8] His father played professional rugby in Zimbabwe for 20 years.[1]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Canada

Mbereko represented the United States at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships where he appeared in three games and recorded one win with a 2.85 GAA and .915 save percentage.[9][10]

Mbereko represented the United States at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he recorded three wins and one loss, with a 1.76 GAA and .921 save percentage.[11][12] He again represented the United States at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he recorded one win and one loss, with a 4.64 GAA and .829 save percentage and won a bronze medal.[13][1]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2021–22 Lincoln Stars USHL 35 18 11 3 1,893 95 1 3.01 .898
2022–23 Colorado College NCHC 30 9 16 2 1,645 63 4 2.30 .925
2023–24 Colorado College NCHC 37 21 13 3 2,227 89 0 2.40 .915
NCAA totals 67 30 29 5 3,872 152 4 2.36 .920

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2021 United States U18 5th 3 1 0 0 147 7 0 2.85 .915
2022 United States WJC 5th 4 3 1 0 238 7 0 1.76 .921
2023 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3 1 1 0 90 7 0 4.64 .829
Junior totals 10 5 2 0 475 21 0 2.65 .903

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-NCHC Second Team 2023 [14]
All-NCHC Rookie Team 2023 [15]
All-NCHC First Team 2024 [16]
NCHC Goaltender of the Year 2024 [17]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2024 [18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Kaidan Mbereko". cctigers.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Allen, Rich (October 1, 202). "Kaidan Mbereko prepares for freshman season at Colorado College". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Field, Carson (March 28, 2023). "'Lot of work to do': CC Tigers looking ahead after taking step in 2022-23". The Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "Mbereko Nabs Third Straight NCHC Goaltender of the Month Award". cctigers.com. February 27, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Weisman, Michael (March 6, 2024). "CC's Mbereko Gloves HCA National Goaltender of the Month for February". nchchockey.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Johnson, Hugh (March 21, 2024). "Colorado College's Kaidan Mbereko named one of three finalists for Mike Richter award; CC scores league-high four NCHC awards". The Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Johnson, Hugh (April 12, 2024). "Colorado College hockey's Kaidan Mbereko and Noah Laba named to All-American first and second teams". The Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Olsen, Becky (June 4, 2020). "Manning the Net Came in Second Try at Hockey for Kaidan Mbereko". usahockeyntdp.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Opening the doors for everyone". IIHF.com. May 2, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (July 6, 2022). "Mbereko's power of positivity". IIHF.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mbereko, Laba Selected to U.S. National Junior Team". cctigers.com. December 16, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Finding Home Between the Pipes". teamusa.usahockey.com. December 30, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Field, Carson (February 23, 2024). "Breaking barriers: Black CC hockey goalie Kaidan Mbereko hopes to be an ambassador". The Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  14. ^ "NCHC Reveals 2022–23 All-Conference Teams". nchchockey.com. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "NCHC Announces 2022–23 All-Rookie Team". nchchockey.com. March 7, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Weisman, Michael (March 13, 2024). "NCHC Unveils 2023-2024 All-Conference Teams". nchchockey.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  17. ^ "NCHC Unveils 2023-2024 Individual Award Winners". nchchockey.com. March 21, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Top 25 men's college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023-24 season". USCHO.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCHC Goaltender of the Year
2023–24 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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