SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League announced the signing of Steven Ruggiero to an amateur tryout agreement on Friday.
Ruggiero, a native of Kings Park, New York, is coming off a senior season that saw him post career bests in goals (6), assists (5), points (11) and plus-minus (+8). Ruggiero, who earned his first WCHA Defenseman of the Week honor this season, tallied assists on three game-winning goals, including an assist on the Lakers' lone goal in their 1-0 win at No. 2/3 Minnesota State on Jan. 19. Earlier this season, Ruggiero scored his first collegiate goal in the Lakers' 5-2 win over then-12th ranked Michigan on Nov. 2. He also ranked second on the Lakers with 57 blocked shots in 2018-19.
Ruggiero, who began his collegiate career at Providence College (2015-17) before joining Lake Superior State, tallied six goals and eight assists for 13 points, while garnering a +13 rating over 70 collegiate games. He played in 54 games with six goals and six assists for 12 points as a Laker.
A sixth-round draft pick (178th Overall) of the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks in the 2015 NHL Draft, Ruggiero helped Team USA to a gold medal at the U-18 World Junior Championships in 2015.
Ruggiero is the second Laker to sign with an AHL organization following the end of the 2018-19 season. Senior Diego Cuglietta signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Texas Stars on Tuesday.
This season, the Lakers (23-13-2) won their most games in a season since 1995-96, recorded the longest winning streak since 1996-97 (seven games), swept Ferris State in a road series for the first time since 1993-94, swept Michigan Tech in a series for the first time since 1983-84, won 16 WCHA Player of Week and five WCHA Player of the Month awards, had two Hobey Baker Award nominees, claimed the first Great Lakes Invitational Championship in program history and captured their first-ever WCHA Playoffs series win.
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