Senior forward Ralph Cuddemi (Concord, Ontario) of the Canisius College hockey team has been named one of 10 finalists nationally for the Senior CLASS Award.
The 10 finalists were selected from a list of 20 Division I candidates by a national media committee. A nationwide vote now begins through SeniorCLASSAward.com and runs through March 28. Fans votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine a winner.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in the community.
On the ice, Cuddemi is making his mark as one of the best to wear the Blue and Gold. Cuddemi is ranked seventh in the program’s Division I history with 114 career points, second with 58 career goals and second with 22 power-play tallies. He set personal bests with 39 points and 22 goals as a junior, while helping lead the Griffs to their best regular-season finish in school history.
In 30 games as a senior, Cuddemi ranks 20th nationally with 33 points, ninth with 17 goals and 13th with six power-play tallies.
Off the ice, Cuddemi maintains a 3.45 grade point average as a communications major with a minor in marketing. The Griffs’ captain this season, Cuddemi is a two-time selection to the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team and is a four-time member of the Dean’s List. He has also been active within the Buffalo community, volunteering with Hasek’s Heroes, the Food Bank of Western New York and Habitat for Humanity.
Cuddemi is the third Canisius student-athlete to be named a finalist for the award. Former hockey players Cory Conacher and Kyle Gibbons were also a finalist in 2011 and 2014, respectively, and both earned Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-America accolades.
Cuddemi and the Griffs return to action on Friday with a home contest against Sacred Heart.
