WCHA players of the week

Supplied by Lake Superior State University…
EDINA, Minn. – Following a road sweep over Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, Lake Superior State hockey returns home with a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association player of the week selections. Sophomore forward Diego Cuglietta was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week, while freshman defender Collin Saccoman took home the Defensive Player of the Week nod.
The Lakers (4-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) captured a 6-3 victory on Friday before finishing the sweep over the Chargers on Saturday with a 5-2 win.
Cuglietta led LSSU to victory with two goals and an assist during Friday’s series opener. The Kamloops, B.C., native scored two goals, just over two minutes apart, and then assisted on J.T. Henke’s goal three minutes later.
On Saturday Cuglietta added his third goal of the weekend with less than two minutes remaining to put the Lakers ahead 5-2.
For his efforts on the weekend, Cuglietta tied for the league lead in points (4) and plus/minus rating (+4), while also leading all WCHA scorers with three goals. Nationally, Cuglietta’s three goals on the weekend ranks third overall.
The award is Cuglietta’s second WCHA weekly honor, after earning Rookie of the Week honors last season.
Saccoman picks up his first WCHA honor after racking up two assists on Friday night and finishing with one assist on Saturday. The Stillwater, Minn. native now has an assist in each of the last three games and has assisted on the game-winning goal in each contest.
The freshman blue liner tied for the league-lead and ranked second in the NCAA for points by a defenseman last weekend. He also led all WCHA blue-liners and tied for the overall league-lead with Cuglietta, posting a +4 rating. Saccoman also blocked six shots, which was good enough to tie for the league-lead among defensemen.
Minnesota State freshman forward Nick Rivera claimed WCHA Rookie of the Week honors after netting two goals and two assists on the weekend, edging out LSSU freshman Braydon Gelsinger.
The undefeated Lakers return home this weekend to host Alaska in the ninth annual Pink in the Rink series. Friday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. and Saturday is slated for a 7:07 p.m. start.