INDIANAPOLIS – Diego Cuglietta has been named the NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Third Star of the Week, as announced by NCAA officials on Tuesday.

A senior center from Kamloops, British Columbia, Cuglietta (15-6--21) helped lead No. 18 Lake Superior State (13-6-1, 8-5-1-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) to four consecutive wins on the week, including being named the MVP of the Great Lakes Invitational. A history major at Lake State, he scored two goals, including the overtime game winner, in the Lakers' 4-3 victory over Michigan State in the semifinals of the GLI on Dec. 30. In the championship game against WCHA foe Michigan Tech on Dec. 31, he added two more goals in the 6-3 win. In WCHA play this past weekend in Alaska, Cuglietta tallied two more goals as Lake State swept Alaska Anchorage with 5-2 and 3-1 results on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Cuglietta is on a six-game point streak that has coincided with the Lakers' six-game winning streak —the longest winning streak for the Lakers since the 2009-10 season when they won six consecutive games from Dec. 4 to Jan. 3. Over the streak that dates back to the Lakers' 4-1 win at Alaska on Dec. 7, Cuglietta has recorded eight goals and two assists for 10 points. His eight goals are the most in the nation over that span and his 10 points are in a three-way tie for the second most.

Cuglietta is tied with senior forward Anthony Nellis (11-10--21) for the team lead in points (21) and his 15 goals scored are second in the nation this season – trailing only Arizona State's Johnny Walker (18-8--26). 

The Lakers return home against Alabama Huntsville this weekend. Friday is Buck-A-Brat Night at Taffy Abel Arena. All game long, fans will be able to purchase brats for just $1 each. There is a flash sale for tickets: get four tickets to Friday's game against Alabama Huntsville for just $24! This deal is available until midnight on Tuesday, Jan. 8. 

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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