Forwards Alex Tuch of the United States National Team Development Program under-18 team and Anthony Angello of the Omaha Lancers have been named co-recipients of the 2013-14 United States Hockey League scholar-athlete award.

Tuch becomes the first player from the USNTDP to earn the USHL scholar-athlete award, while Angello becomes the fourth player from Omaha to be recognized.

The USHL scholar-athlete award, established in 2007, recognizes players for their success in the classroom and on the ice. The candidates are nominated by their coaches, teachers and academic counselors based on their grade-point-average, coursework and overall school participation.

Tuch, No. 12 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of the top North American skaters eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. He had 29 goals and 64 points in 61 games for the under-18 team this season, including 13 goals and 32 points in 26 USHL games. He also had three assists and a plus-5 rating in seven games to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April.

He is the highest-rated player from the USHL entering this year's draft, which will be held June 27-28 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Off the ice, Tuch was active in the disability awareness program at Pioneer High School, working daily with physically and mentally disabled students. The Boston College-bound right wing also participated in community service projects for the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital and Ann Arbor Avalon House.

Angello, No. 114 on Central Scouting's final list of the top North American skaters, had 11 goals and 21 points in 58 regular-season games for the Lancers. The center spent his senior year at Millard North High School in Omaha, Neb., and also graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He aided the Special Olympics floor hockey program, the Stick With Reading program for students at local elementary schools and helped the youth hockey players in the Omaha Junior Lancers organization.

Angello will play hockey at Cornell University in 2015-16.

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