CUDDEMI NAMED ATLANTIC ROOKIE OF WEEK
Former Georgetown Raider and Mississauga Charger Ralph Cuddemi (photo credit - Tom Wolf Imaging/Canisius College Athletics), now with the Canisius College Golden Griffins, was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week after his performance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Concord, Ontario native spent two seasons in the OJHL from 20010-12 before joining the Griffins program as a freshman this season. He joined the Georgetown Raiders as a 17-year old, after being drafted by the Erie Otters in the 11th round, 216th overall, of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, and tasted immediate success in junior hockey, 23 points in 30 games played before a trade saw him moved to the Mississauga Chargers. Cuddemi continued his offensive prowress in Mississauga and finished the season as the club's fourth leading scorer with 16 goals and 40 points in 48 games played. Cuddemi returned to the Chargers for his sophomore season, and was clearly the club's most consistent threat the entire year, finishing 10th overall in OJHL scoring with 63 points in 46 regular season games played. Along with his scholarship to attend Canisius, Cuddemi also would play for the OJHL South Division All-Stars at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Smiths Falls, Ontario.
Below is the official press release from the Canisius College Athletics website (www.gogriffs.com):
After leading the Canisius College hockey team in its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament, junior Patrick Sullivan and freshman Ralph Cuddemi were honored by Atlantic Hockey on Monday. Sullivan collected the league’s Player of the Week accolades, while Cuddemi was honored as the Rookie of the Week.
Sullivan led the Griffs with two points in the NCAA East Regional Semifinal against top-ranked Quinnipiac, scoring a goal and adding an assist. The junior gave the Griffs a second-period lead by deflecting the puck into the back of the net. He then added an assist on a third-period tally.
The Derby, N.Y. native finished his junior season ranked third on the team with 22 points, scoring eight goals to go along with 14 assists. In 110 career contests, Sullivan has totaled 41 points, 17 goals and 24 assists.
Cuddemi collected Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors for the second-straight week. The freshman recorded an assist on the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament goal, setting up sophomore defender Stephen Farrell in the second period.
The Concord, Ontario native totaled 10 points, four goals and six assists in 37 games during his rookie campaign.
The duo helped the Griffs to one of their most successful seasons in the program’s history. Canisius, currently ranked 20th in the national poll, won its first Atlantic Hockey Championship in 2013 and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
