Lake Superior State wins first Great Lakes Invitational in program history
Lake Superior State hockey defeated Michigan Tech 6-3 in the Great Lakes Invitational Championship Game on New Year’s Eve at Little Caesars Arena. It was LSSU’s first tournament championship, as well as the first time two Upper Peninsula teams made simultaneous appearances at the tourney, which has been going on since 1964.
Senior centerย Diego Cugliettaย was named Tournament MVP as the Lakers won the GLI for the first time in program history. The Lakers are now 4-4 all time at the GLI in four appearances (1977, 1996, 1999, 2018).
Lake Superior State (11-6-1) took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Cuglietta got the scoring started for the Lakers with his first goal of the game at 10:34 of the first period with junior wingerย Max Humitzย assisting on the play. Just over a minute later, sophomore forwardย Hampus Erikssonย scored his second goal of the season at the 11:36 mark to make the score 2-0. Freshman forwardย Pete Veilletteย assisted on the play. Michigan Tech responded at 16:51 of the first period whenย Jake Lucchiniย scored an unassisted goal to make the score 2-1.
Alex Smithย scored the first goal of the second period on the power play for the Huskies to tie the game at 2-2 at the 3:29 mark, before Lake Superior State responded with the next two goals to make the score 4-2 at the second intermission. Humitz scored at 9:23 and junior wingerย Bryan Basilicoย added a power-play goal at 16:12. Senior wingerย Anthony Nellisย assisted on Humitz’s goal, while junior wingerย Brayden Gelsingerย and sophomore defensemanย Lukas Kaelbleย assisted on Basilico’s goal.
In the third period, Michigan Tech drew within one goal with the score 4-3 whenย Trenton Blissย scored on the power play three minutes into the third period. Neither team scored again until the Lakers scored two empty-net goals in the final 1:10 of the game. Cuglietta scored the first empty-net goal, assisted by Humitz, at 18:50 of the period and junior defensemanย Steven Ruggieroย scored at the 19:08 mark to make the final score 6-3.
Senior netminderย Nick Kossoffย (9-2-1) made 18 saves for the Lakers, whileย Robbie Beydounย (3-2-1) stopped 34 shots for the Huskies.
The Lakers went 1-of-4 on the power play, while the Huskies were 2-of-5.
The Lakers held a 40-21 edge in shots on goal in the game.
Joining Cuglietta on the GLI All-Tournament Team were Kossoff and junior defensemanย Collin Saccoman.
Lake Superior State returns to action in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at Alaska Anchorage on Friday and Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska.
The next Laker home series is against Alabama Huntsville on Jan. 11-12. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.
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From LSSU Sports Information