SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State hockey returns to Western Collegiate Hockey Association play with a two-game series against Alaska Anchorage at Sullivan Arena.
Lake Superior State (11-6-1, 6-5-1-0 WCHA) and Alaska Anchorage (2-15-1, 1-10-1-0 WCHA) are slated to play on Friday and Saturday with the puck drop at 11:07 p.m. EST on both days.
Great Lakes Invitational
Lake Superior State (11-6-1, 6-5-1-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) won the Great Lakes Invitational for the first time in program history. Competing in the 54th GLI, Lake State defeated Michigan State 4-3 in overtime in the semifinals on Sunday before downing Michigan Tech 6-3 in the GLI Championship Game on Monday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Lakers were making their fourth appearance in the GLI (1977, 1996, 1999, 2018).
The Lakers are now 4-4 all-time at the GLI. The Lakers previously went 1-1 in 1977 and finished third, 1-1 in 1996 and finished second and 0-2 in 1999 to finish fourth.
GLI MVP
Senior center Diego Cuglietta (13-6--19) 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.
For his efforts, Cuglietta was named the WCHA Forward of the Week for the first time this season and the third time in his career.
Cuglietta enters the weekend leading the WCHA in goals scored and faceoff wins (252), while tying for the conference lead in power-play goals (6).
Cuglietta is tied with Evan Barratt of Penn State for the second-most goals in the nation — trailing Arizona State's Johnny Walker (18).
WCHA Defenseman of the Month
Junior defenseman Collin Saccoman (7-7--14) earned WCHA Defenseman of the Week honors on Wednesday and WCHA Defenseman of the Month honors on Thursday. Saccoman was also WCHA Defenseman of the Month in November.
Saccoman was named the WCHA Defenseman of the Week on Wednesday after his performance in the GLI. He earned GLI All-Tournament Team honors as he helped Lake Superior State win the GLI for the first time in program history. He led the nation with 11 blocked shots from Dec. 28-Dec. 31, and he recorded two assists and a +4 rating as the Lakers defeated Michigan State in the semifinals and Michigan Tech 6-3 in the GLI Championship Game on New Year's Eve. Seven of his blocked shots came against Michigan State.
He earned WCHA Defenseman of the Month honors for December after tallying 17 blocked shots, one goal, four assists and five points in five games played as the Lakers went 4-1. Saccoman's 17 blocked shots ranked fourth among WCHA defensemen (tied for fourth in the nation) and his 3.40 blocked shots per game ranked second (fifth in the nation). In addition, he ranked tied for third among WCHA defensemen in points per game (1.00), tied for fourth in points by a WCHA defenseman, tied for fifth in assists by a WCHA defenseman and first in goals per shot on goal percentage (.200) by a WCHA blueliner.
On the month, he recorded two multi-point games. Saccoman tallied one goal and one assist for two points in a 4-1 win at Alaska on Dec. 7, and two assists in a 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational Semifinals on Dec. 30. The Lakers were undefeated (3-0) on the month when Saccoman tallied a point.
Saccoman enters the week leading the WCHA in goals scored by a defenseman, while ranking tied for second in the nation.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Senior goaltender Nick 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. Kossoff was named to the GLI All-Tournament Team.
Power Play
Dating back to beginning of the Alaska series on Dec. 7, Lake Superior State has gone 7-of-16 on the power play. The Lakers' .438 power-play percentage is the best in the nation over that span.
Road Success
Lake State is 7-1-0 (.875) in true road games this season and 9-1-0 when playing away from Taffy Abel Arena. The Lakers' .900 winning percentage in road and neutral-site games leads college hockey and their seven road wins are tied for the second most in the nation. The Lakers also have the best winning percentage in the country in road games (.875).
Looking Ahead
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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