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Oliver Auyeung-Ashton Rookie of the Year Finalist Graphic

Hockey Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Oliver Auyeung-Ashton Named CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist

Auyeung-Ashton one of three from the conference to be named as a finalist for the major award.

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced that goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton has been named a CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist.

Auyeung-Ashton has been named a finalist for this major award alongside Bowling Green defenseman Brayden Crampton and St. Thomas forward Lucas Van Vliet.

Oliver had himself an exceptional freshman campaign, as he took over between the pipes and posted a 2.67 GAA and .930 SV% in his 18 games played. 

 

Among the conference, his SV% was second only to Augustana's Josh Kotai, and his GAA was fourth among CCHA netminders who played in 18 or more games. Nationally, among freshman goalies that played in 18+ games, his SV% is first (ahead of Michigan's Jack Ivankovic, .922), and his GAA is 10th.

Auyeung-Ashton now adds CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist to a freshman campaign that saw him earn a pair of other prestigious accolades: a spot on the Mike Richter 'Watch List', the award given annually to the best goaltender across the NCAA, and a Hobey Baker nominee, given annually to the best player in college hockey.
   
Auyeung-Ashton earned his first collegiate appearance in relief of William Gramme at Ohio State on October 10, where he made all eight saves in just shy of 20 minutes played. He then started the next night, making 45 saves and posting a .957 SV% in his first career start, earning himself CCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his 1.53 GAA and .964 SV% over 78 minutes played.

His 45 saves became the most by an NMU freshman goalie in their first collegiate start in the modern NCAA era (2004-present), and the most saves by an NMU freshman goalie in a game since Atte Tolvanen made 46 on October 30, 2015. Auyeung-Ashton became the ninth freshman goaltender in the NCAA to make 45+ saves in their first start in the past 20 years, and only the second in the past seven seasons.
 
The Coquitlam, British Columbia native posted four of the top 12 single-game save performances in the CCHA, with his 45 against OSU the most. He also held the first seven and nine of the top 12 single-game save performances among all CCHA freshmen. Oliver made 40+ saves on four separate occasions, most among CCHA goalies.

 

One of his best performances of the season came at home, where he posted a 38-save shutout in a 2-0 win over Bemidji State on January 30, 2026. Nationally, his 38 saves are the third-most among freshmen and sixth-most among all collegiate goaltenders in a shutout effort this season. 

 

The freshman was hampered by an injury during the middle of the season, not allowing him to see action all season and missing time from November to the beginning of January. He recovered and returned to action at the beginning of the second semester, and in his first series back from injury, he made back-to-back 28-save performances in 2-1 losses on the road at Lake Superior State. 
 

About 

# 30 | Oliver Auyeung-Ashton | Goaltender, Freshman | Coquitlam, BC, Canada | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Auyeung-Ashton joined the Grizzlies ahead of the 22/23 campaign, where in his first season with the team, he posted a .927 SV% with five shutouts and a 21-14-6 record. After three seasons with the club and 96 appearances, he finished with a 50-29-12 record with eight shutouts to go along with a 14-10-1 record in the postseason. Auyeung-Ashton departs the Grizzlies as the franchise leader in games played for a goaltender, career wins, and shutouts. His career save percentage of .916 was good enough for third all-time in program history. His time in the BCHL also saw him take home the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year, as well as being named to the All-Rookie Team.

Coach Shyiak on Auyeung-Ashton: "Oliver has had an exceptional track record during his time in the BCHL. He comes highly recommended as a goaltender, teammate, and competitor. On the ice, Oliver has a lot of traits that we look for in our goaltenders; he's an exceptional skater who tracks the puck very well and never gives up on a play."



 
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Players Mentioned

William Gramme

#1 William Gramme

G
6' 3"
Junior
Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

#30 Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

G
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

William Gramme

#1 William Gramme

6' 3"
Junior
G
Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

#30 Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

5' 10"
Freshman
G