BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Diego Cuglietta, Collin Saccoman and Nick Kossoff have been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Week, as announced by conference officials on Wednesday.
Cuglietta, Saccoman and Kossoff helped Lake Superior State (11-6-1, 6-5-1-0 WCHA) win the Great Lakes Invitational for the first time in program history. Lake Superior State defeated Michigan State 4-3 in overtime on Sunday in the semifinals before downing Michigan Tech 6-3 in the GLI Championship Game on Monday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. It was the Lakers' first appearance in the GLI since 1999 and the first time they had appeared in the GLI Championship Game.
A senior center from Kamloops, British Columbia who is majoring in history, Cuglietta earned WCHA Forward of the Week honors. He was named the Great Lakes Invitational Most Valuable Player after scoring two goals in each win for a total of four in the GLI. His four goals led the nation on the week. In Sunday's win over Michigan State, Cuglietta scored the Lakers' second goal of the game on the power play at 15:42 of the first period to tie the game at 2-2. He later scored the game winner at the 3:05 mark in overtime. In Monday's win over Michigan Tech, Cuglietta scored the Lakers' first goal of the game to give them a 1-0 lead at 10:34 of the first period. He then added an empty-net goal at 18:50 of the third period to put Lake State up 5-3 and seal the GLI title. In addition to his goal scoring, Cuglietta tallied nine shots on goal and a +3 rating in the GLI.
Saccoman, a junior defenseman from Stillwater, Minnesota who is majoring in criminal justice, earned WCHA Defenseman of the Week honors. He led the nation with 11 blocked shots on the week, tallied two assists (one on the power play) and recorded a +4 rating to be named to the GLI All-Tournament Team. Saccoman tallied seven blocked shots against Michigan State and four against Michigan Tech. Both of Saccoman's assists came in the Lakers' win over Michigan State as he assisted on Cuglietta's power-play goal that tied the game at 2-2 at 15:42 of the second period and junior winger Max Humitz's goal that put Lake State in front 3-2 at 7:29 of the second period.
A senior goaltender from West Des Moines, Iowa who is majoring in Kinesiology, Kossoff (9-2-1) was named the WCHA Goaltender of the Week after backstopping the Lakers to both wins in the GLI. He made 29 saves against Michigan State in the GLI Semifinals on Sunday, before making 18 saves against Michigan Tech in the GLI Championship Game. He tallied 47 saves and a 2.93 goals against average on the week.
Cuglietta, Saccoman and Kossoff all earned their first WCHA weekly honors of the season. Cuglietta and Kossoff have each earned three WCHA weekly awards in their careers, while Saccoman has earned two.
Lake Superior State returns to action in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at Alaska Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.
The next Laker home series is against Alabama Huntsville on Jan. 11-12. Friday, Jan. 11 is Buck-A-Brat Night at Taffy Abel Arena. All game long, fans will be able to purchase brats for just $1 each. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.
On Friday, Jan. 25, Laker Hockey will host the ninth annual 'White Out' domestic and sexual violence awareness night, in partnership with the Diane Peppler Center and the Sexual Violence Prevention Team of the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The first 1,000 fans to enter the Taffy Abel Arena will receive a free shirt to wear at the game.
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Watch the highlight video from the GLI Championship Game below.