Cuglietta and Nellis Nominated for 2019 Hobey Baker Award

Seniors Diego Cuglietta and Anthony Nellis are nominated for the 2019 Hobey Baker Award

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Diego Cuglietta and Anthony Nellis appear on the ballot for the 2019 Hobey Baker Award.

Awarded annually to college hockey's top player, the Hobey Baker's fan-voting will run from now until Sunday, March 10 at midnight. Laker fans can cast one vote per day by going to the voting website http://www.hobeybaker.com. Follow the prompts to vote for Cuglietta and Nellis. There are 81 nominees from 46 NCAA Division I schools this year. Phase two of fan balloting will come from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 20 and closing March 31. 

Cuglietta (16-7--23), a senior center and history major from Kamloops, British Columbia, leads the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and is second in NCAA Division I men's hockey in goals scored. He also leads the conference and is second in the nation with 300 faceoff wins. Cuglietta, who is tied for the team lead with a +13 rating, had an eight-game point streak that started at Alaska on Dec. 7 and ended against Alabama Huntsville on Jan. 12. Over the streak, he tallied nine goals and three assists for 12 points. He earned Great Lakes Invitational MVP honors after scoring four goals, including the overtime-game winner against Michigan State, as Lake Superior State defeated Michigan State (4-3 OT) and Michigan Tech (6-3) to win the GLI for the first time in program history. Cuglietta also earned WCHA Forward of the Week honors after his performance in the GLI. In his Laker career, Cuglietta has tallied 41 goals and 41 assists for 82 points. He leads all active Lakers in career goals and points. 

Nellis (11-11--22), a senior winger and finance and economics major from Breakeyville, Quebec, is second on the team in both goals and assists. He has recorded five multi-point games this season with a season-high four points (1-3--4), including an assist on the game-winning goal, in LSSU's 5-2 win over then-No.12 ranked Michigan on Nov. 2. He also garnered one goal and two assists, including an assist on the game-winning goal, for three points in Lake State's 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State in the GLI. Nellis, who also has a +5 rating on the season, scored the game-winning goal in Lake State's 5-4 season-opening win at Merrimack on Oct. 6. In his collegiate career, Nellis has tallied 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points. He leads all active Lakers in career assists and is second in goals and points.    

Award criteria includes candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.  

The 2019 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 12, 2019 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Buffalo, New York. The award ceremony will be held at HarborCenter and will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com. For more info on the Hobey Baker Award please visit www.hobeybaker.com

Lake State is back in action against No. 6 Minnesota State on Friday and Saturday in Mankato, Minnesota. Both games are slated for 8:07 p.m. EST. The radio broadcast will be on 99.5 Yes FM and the series will be streamed on FloHockey.TV.

The Lakers' next home series is against Bemidji State on Friday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 26. Both games are slated to begin at 7 p.m. inside Taffy Abel Arena.

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 Taffy Abel Arena will receive a free shirt to wear at the game. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.

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