SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Max Humitz and Steven Ruggiero have been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Week, as announced by conference officials on Monday.
Humitz (14-16--30), a junior winger and kinesiology major from Livonia, Michigan, earned WCHA Forward of the Week honors. Ruggiero (6-3--9), a senior defenseman and political science major from Kings Park, N.Y., earned WCHA Defenseman of the Week honors.
They helped No. 18 Lake Superior State (20-8-2, 15-7-2-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) to a two-game series sweep of Michigan Tech for the first time since the 1983-84 season. They also helped the Lakers eclipse the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2006-07.
Humitz scored the game-winning goal against Michigan Tech on both Friday and Saturday. Humitz's two game-winning goals and his +5 rating both led the WCHA and tied for the national lead on the week. He also tied for the WCHA lead in shots on goal (9) and shots on goal per game (4.50), while blocking two shots and adding an assist in the series for a three-point weekend. In Friday's 3-1 win over the Huskies, Humitz broke a 1-1 tie with a goal at 3:08 of the third period. He also garnered a +2 rating and four shots on goal in Friday's win. On Saturday, Humitz assisted on the first goal of the game, scored by senior center Diego Cuglietta at 7:10 of the first period, as the Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Humitz then scored the eventual game-winning goal — his 14th goal of the season — at 18:10 of the first period as the Lakers went on to win 3-1. He tallied five shots on goal and +3 rating as he was on the ice for each Laker goal on Saturday. Humitz is on a four-game point streak and has tallied a point in 11 of his last 13 games played.
Ruggiero, a draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, scored one goal, blocked six shots and garnered a +3 rating on the weekend. In Friday's 3-1 win, Ruggiero blocked four shots, garnered a +1 rating, and scored an empty-net goal – his sixth goal of the season – at 19:06 of the third period to secure the win. In Saturday's 3-1 victory, he added two more blocked shots with a +2 rating. His six blocked shots tied for second in the WCHA and his +3 rating was third among WCHA blueliners on the week.
It is the second time this season that Humitz has been named WCHA Forward of the Week, while this is the first WCHA defenseman of the Week honor this season for Ruggiero.
Humitz was also named the Madigan/Pingatore Insurance Athlete of the Week, as announced by the Lake Superior State athletic department on Monday.
The Lakers return to WCHA action on the road this upcoming weekend, facing Northern Michigan on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. EST in Marquette, Michigan.
The Lakers return home for their final regular-season home series when they host Ferris State on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. The team's seniors will be honored with a ceremony on Saturday as part of Senior Night. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.
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