Esmark Stars in the News
Stars Set for Exciting Weekend Action
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF) and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAT1HL) , return to the ice this upcoming weekend, Oct 26 - 28, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
The U18 AAA Midget Major Pittsburgh Stars will travel to Odenton, MD, for a pair of Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) league games with Team Maryland. The two Midget Major squads will face-off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:35 p.m. on Sunday at the Piney Orchard Rink.
Likewise, the U16 AAA Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars will also travel to Odenton, MD, for a pair of T1HF league games with Team Maryland. The two Midget Minor squads will face-off at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday at the Piney Orchard Rink.
The U13 AAA Red Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will be busy this weekend as they have four games on the schedule. On Stars open the weekend on Saturday, as they and the Pittsburgh Vengeance face-off at 9:30 a.m. at the Alpha Complex in Harmar, PA. Then on Saturday evening, the Stars will welcome the Jersey Hitmen to Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a T1HF league game. The opening face-off is set for 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Stars and Hitmen will close their two-game T1HF weekend series with a 8:00 a.m. game at Pittsburgh Ice Arena. The Stars will conclude their four-game weekend on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. game against the Vengeance back at the Alpha Complex in Harmar.
Likewise, the U13 AAA White Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will be busy this upcoming weekend as they welcome both the Carolina Premier and Jersey Hitmen to Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a pair of two-game weekend series. On Friday evening the U13 Stars and U13 Carolina Premier will take to the ice for a non-league game at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, 1:30 p.m., the Stars and Jersey Hitmen will square-off in a T1HF league game. On Sunday, the Stars and Carolina will close their two-game non-league series with a 8:00 a.m. opening face-off. Then the Stars and the Hitmen close their two-game T1HF series with a 12:30 p.m. game.
The U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Pittsburgh Stars will welcome the U12 Palmyra Black Knights to Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a pair of T1HF league games on Saturday, Oct 26. Opening face-offs are set for 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The U15 Midget Pittsburgh Stars and the U14 Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars will both enjoy a scheduled weekend off.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for Exciting Weekend Action
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF) and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAT1HL) , return to the ice this upcoming weekend, Oct 18 - 20, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
The U15 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars squad will travel to Columbus, OH, to participate in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL) Columbus Showcase. The Stars will open play with a pair of games on Friday, Oct 18. First up is an 11:00 a.m. tilt with the Washington Little Capitals at the Chiller North Arena in Lewis Center, OH. Then at 4:30 p.m., the Stars will square off with the Florida Alliance U15 squad at the Chiller Ice Works in Worthington, OH. On Saturday, the Stars and Belle Tire will take to the ice at 9:00 a.m. back at the Chiller North Arena. The U15 Midget Pittsburgh Stars will close the showcase with a 12:00 noon opening face-off against the Carolina Jr Hurricanes at the Chiller Ice Works.
The U14 AAA Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars will welcome the Valley Forge Minutemen to the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a pair of games on Saturday, Oct 19. Opening face-offs are set for 12:00 and 5:20 p.m. Then on Sunday, Oct 20, the Bantam Major Stars will travel to the Ice Castle Arena in Castle Shannon, PA, for a 3:40 p.m. faceoff with the Pittsburgh Predators.
Meanwhile, the U18 Midget Major Pittsburgh Stars, the U16 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars, the U13 Red Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars, the U13 White Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars and the U12 Pee Wee Major Pittsburgh Stars will all enjoy a scheduled weekend off.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for Exciting Weekend Action
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF) and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAT1HL) , return to the ice this holiday weekend, Oct 11 - 14, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
The U14 Bantam Major, U13 Red Bantam Minor, U13 White Bantam Minor and U12 Pee Wee Major squads will all be in Ann Arbor, MI, for the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) Showcase, Saturday, Oct 12 - Monday, Oct 14.
The U14 AAA Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars will open play with a pair of games on Saturday. First up will be an 11:00 a.m. opening face-off against the Queen City Royals. Then at 5:00 p.m. they will face Biggby AAA. On Sunday, the Stars will face the Chicago Phantoms at 8:30 p.m. The U14 squad will close the showcase with a 2:00 p.m. game against the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders on Monday.
The U13 Red AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will open play on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. game against Indiana Elite. On Sunday, they will square-off with the Chicago Phantoms at 11:00 a.m. and then against the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders at 6:30 p.m. The U13 Red squad will close the showcase on Monday with a 12:30 p.m. game against the Mercer Chiefs.
The U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will open play on Saturday with a 6:45 p.m. game against Biggby AAA. On Sunday, they will square-off with Team Maryland at 12:45 p.m. and then against the Flyers Elite at 8:15 p.m. The U13 White squad will close the showcase on Monday with an 11:00 a.m. game against the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders.
And the U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Pittsburgh Stars will open play on Saturday with a pair of games. First up will be a 12:30 p.m. game against the Sylvania North Stars. Then at 5:00 p.m., the Stars will take to the ice against the Chicago Phantoms. On Sunday, they will square-off with Biggby AAA at 1:00 p.m. The U12 squad will close the showcase on Monday with an 9:45 a.m. game against the Flyers Elite.
All T1HF Showcase - Ann Arbor Showcase games will be played at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Arena in Ann Arbor, MI.
Meanwhile, the Stars AAA Hockey Midget squads (18U, 16U and 15U) will travel east to Philadelphia to participate in the Prospects Hockey "Liberty Cup" Showcase being hosted by the Philadelphia Little Flyers, Friday, Oct 11 through Sunday, Oct 13.
The U18 Midget Major Pittsburgh Stars will square-off with the West Chester Wolves on Friday at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday the Midget Major Stars will take to the ice twice. First up will be a game with CP Dynamo at 1:15 p.m. Then at 6:00 p.m., the Stars and the Little Flyers will hook-up. On Sunday, the Stars will close the Showcase at 8:00 a.m. against Connecticut Elite Academy.
The U16 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars will open the Showcase on Friday, 9:15 p.m., against the Mercer Chiefs. On Saturday, the Midget Minor Stars will square-off against Elite Academy, 7:45 p.m. On Sunday, the Stars will face the West Chester Wolves at 9:45 a.m. Post round-robin play, 16U teams will be seeded for a fourth game (1 vs 2 and 3 vs 4) at 2:30 p.m.
The U15 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars squad will play three games in Aston. The Stars and the Philadelphia Little Flyers will face each other twice on Saturday. Games are set for 8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Stars will face the Philadelphia Revolution at 10:15 a.m.
All Prospects Hockey "Liberty Cup" Showcase games will be played at the IceWorks Arena in Aston, PA.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Norkevicus and Volski Honored
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced their Divisional Stars of the Week, presented by Bauer Hockey, for the week ending September 30, 2024 ... which included the NAHL Showcase event in Blaine, MN.
Two graduates of the Pittsburgh Star's program were recognized as the top player in divisional play for their performance at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN. Defenseman Ian Norkevicus, Fairbanks Ice Dogs, and goaltender Nikita Volski, Corpus Christi Ice Rays, were honored as the top players in their respective divisions.
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Ian Norkevicus, Defenseman, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Second-year defenseman and Pittsburgh Stars graduate and Pennsylvania native Ian Norkevicus was elite on the blueline throughout the showcase for the Ice Dogs, helping them sweep their trio of games at the Super Rink. Ian found his scoring touch early, rattling off a pair of goals on Wednesday against the New Jersey Titans, including the eventual game-winner midway through the second period. He one-upped his Wednesday performance on Saturday against the undefeated Amarillo Wranglers. The Ice Dogs found themselves down 2-1 heading into the third period, and Norkevicus made it his mission to turn the tides. Ian picked up an assist on Luca Ricciardi’s game-tying goal and, 14 seconds later, found the back of the net to give the Ice Dogs the lead. He later added his second of the game and fourth of the season to seal the victory.
"Ian’s work ethic and attention to detail is top notch. He has enjoyed a great start in his second season with us both on the ice and in the locker room as a leader," said Fairbanks head coach Ryan Theros. "Looking forward to his success throughout because of his team-first attitude!!
South Division Star of the Week: Nikita Volski, Goalie, Corpus Christi IceRays
Once again in the South Division, a stellar goaltending performance from a netminder in Texas earned him a Star of the Week honor. Belarussian native Nikita Volski headed into the showcase 3-1 and was determined to continue adding wins to his record. On Thursday against Danbury, Volsky was lights out between the pipes, stopping all but one of 36 shots the Jr. Hat Tricks sent his way. Nikita and the IceRays returned the following evening to face the Springfield. Jr Blues, where he kept out all 27 shots to earn his first career shutout in the NAHL in Corpus Christi’s 3-0 victory. Between the two games he appeared in, Nikita held a 0.50 goals against average and an impressive .984 save percentage.
“So happy for Nikita; he’s been a brick wall for us,” said Corpus Christi head coach Sylvain Cloutier. “He’s one of the reasons we had the start we had.”
Stars Set for Exciting Weekend Action
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF) and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAT1HL) , return to the ice this weekend, Oct 4 - 6, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
The U16 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars will headline action this weekend, as they travel to Columbus, OH, for a showcase tournament hosted by the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets. The Stars open play on Friday, Oct 4, evening, with a 5:30 p.m. opening faceoff against the Dallas Stars Elite. On Saturday, Oct 6, the Stars return to the ice to face the Blue Jackets 16U squad at 11:00 a.m. They close the Showcase on Sunday, Oct 7, with a 1:00 p.m. game against the Chicago Mission. All games will be at the Chiller North rink in Dublin, OH.
The U18 Midget Major Pittsburgh Stars will welcome the Jersey Hitmen to the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a pair of weekend Tier T1HF games. The Stars and Hitmen will square-off at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and Stars fans are encouraged to attend.
The U15 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars squad will travel to Annville, PA, to face the Palmyra Black Knights in a pair of weekend Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) games. The Stars and Knights will square-off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10:15 a.m. on Sunday. Both games will be played at the Klick Lewis Arena in Annville.
The U13 Red AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will travel to Lakewood, OH, to face the Cleveland Barons for a pair of non-league games on Saturday, Oct 5, 2:35 and 7:10 p.m. Both games will be played at the Winterhurst Ice Arena in Lakewood.
The U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will travel to Columbus, OH, for a pair of non-league games on Saturday, Oct 5, 4:00 and 7:50 p.m. Both games will be played at the Chiller North Arena in Lewis Center, OH.
And the U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Pittsburgh Stars will travel to Annville, PA, for a pair of T1HF league games on Saturday, Oct 5, 12:15 and 3:45 p.m. Both games will be played at the Klick Lewis Arena in Annville.
The U14 AAA Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars will enjoy a scheduled off weekend.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for Exciting Weekend Action
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAT1HL) and the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF), return to the ice this weekend, Sept 26 - 29, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
The Star's Midget age teams (U18, U16 and U15) will all be in Blaine, MN, Sept 26 - 29, for the NAT1HL opening league showcase.
Dubbed the "Greatest Show on Ice" ... the first event of the season for the T1ER League will be played in conjunction with the NAHL Showcase, which features all 35 North American Hockey League Junior A teams and the U.S. National Development Program (NTDP), and will include play in the U18, U16 and U15 divisions.
The weekend offers participants the unique opportunity to play in an event attended by more than 300 professional, college and junior scouts, including scouts and representatives from every NCAA School in the country.
Over the course of the four-day event, the NAHL Showcase will attract over 9,000 people in overall attendance.
For scouting purposes, the NAHL Showcase is the premier event of its kind and is a yearly gathering for every NCAA program and NHL team as they get their first look at some of the best and brightest hockey talent North America has to offer.
The NAT1HL showcase will feature all NAT1HL Midget AAA teams (U15, U16 and & U18) as well as guest clubs from across the United States for four-days of exciting Midget AAA Showcase action.
The U15 (only) Midget Minor Stars will open the NAHL Showcase Event on Thursday, Sept 26, against the Philadelphia Little Flyers, 6:00 p.m., at the Super Rink. On Friday, Sept 27, the U15 Stars will face the Valley Forge Minutemen, 4:00 p.m., at the Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine. On Saturday, Sept 28, the U15 Stars will face Elite Hockey Academy at 8:00 a.m., back at the Super Rink. The U15 Stars will close the Showcase against the U15 Queen City Royals on Sunday, Sept 29, 8:00 a.m., back at the Fogerty Ice Arena.
The U16 Midget Minor Stars will open the NAHL Showcase Event on Thursday, Sept 26, against the U16 Nashville Jr Predators, 4:00 p.m. On Friday, Sept 27, the U16 Stars will face the U16 Lincoln Stars, 10:00 a.m. On Saturday, Sept 28, the U16 Stars will face the U16 Minnesota Walleye at 12:00 p.m. The U16 Stars will close the Showcase against the U16 Windy City Storm on Sunday, Sept 29, 7:30 a.m. All of the U16 Pittsburgh Stars’ Midget Minor NAT1HL Showcase games will be played at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine.
The U18 Midget Major Stars will open the NAHL Showcase Event on Thursday, Sept 26, against U18 CarShield AAA, 10:15 a.m. On Friday, Sept 27, the U18 Stars will face U18 Biggby Coffee AAA, 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sept 28, the U18 Stars will face the U18 Belle Tire AAA at 6:15 p.m. The U18 Stars will close the Showcase against the U18 Windy City Storm on Sunday, Sept 29, 9:30 a.m. All of the U18 Pittsburgh Stars’ Midget Major NAT1HL Showcase games will be played at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine.
Entering its 16th season in 2024-25, the NAPHL T1ER League is made up of USA Hockey-sanctioned teams that compete at the 18U, 16U, 15U and 14U levels.
The NAPHL T1ER League continues to be the premier destination for players looking to advance to the NAHL. During the 2023-24 season, the NAHL featured 190 NAPHL alumni, with an additional 95 T1ER players either tendered or drafted by an NAHL team.
All Showcase games will be broadcast live through NATV (NAHLTV.com).
The Super Rink in Blaine, MN, is the largest ice arena of its kind in the world. The state-of-the-art facility, a $21 million project totaling over 300,000 square feet, features eight sheets of ice under one roof. With all its varied amenities and services, the Super Rink is absolutely unique in the world of ice sport facilities.
Elsewhere, the U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Stars, U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Stars and U14 AAA Bantam Major Stars will all be in T1HF league action at home at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA.
The U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Pittsburgh Stars will welcome the U12 Philadelphia Revolution Elite to Pittsburgh and the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena for the backend of a home and home weekend THF league series this weekend. Games are set for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Likewise, the U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will welcome the U13 Philadelphia Revolution Elite to Pittsburgh and the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena for the backend of a home and home weekend THF league series this weekend. Games are set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
And the U14 AAA Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars welcome the U14 Connecticut Jr Rangers to Pittsburgh and the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena for a three-game THF league series this weekend. Games are set for 11:20 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
The U13 Red AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will enjoy a scheduled off weekend.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for Exciting THF Action this Weekend
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF) and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), return to the ice this weekend, Sept 20 - 22, for exciting AAA hockey action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season.
All six Stars teams in play this weekend will be in THF League play.
At the Midget age levels (U18, U16 and U15) the Stars will welcome teams from across the nation to Pittsburgh for the THF - Pittsburgh Showcase, Friday through Sunday.
The showcase will feature Midget AAA teams (U15, U16 and & U18) from over 50 clubs from across the United States into Pittsburgh for three-days of exciting Midget AAA Showcase action.
The U15 (only) Midget Minor Stars will open THF - Pittsburgh Showcase play on Friday, Sept 20, with a pair of games. First up will be a 10:00 a.m. opening face-off against the Colorado Thunderbirds, at Printscape Arena in Southpointe, PA. Then on Friday afternoon, 4:00 p.m., the Stars and the Rocky Mountain Roughriders will square-off at the Printscape Arena. On Saturday, the Stars will face the San Jose Jr Sharks at 10:20 a.m. back at Printscape Arena. The U15 Stars will close the THF - Pittsburgh Showcase against the U15 Rochester Jr Americans at 8:00 a.m., at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA.
The U16 AAA Midget Minor Stars will open THF - Pittsburgh Showcase play on Friday, Sept 20, with a pair of games. First up will be a 8:00 a.m. opening face-off against the PAL Jr Islanders, at Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA. Then on Friday evening, 8:00 p.m., the Stars and the Mercer Chiefs will square-off back at Pittsburgh Ice Arena. On Saturday, the Stars will face the Revolution Elite, 2:00 p.m., at Pittsburgh Ice Arena. The U16 Stars will close the THF - Pittsburgh Showcase against the U16 Palmyra Black Knights at 2:00 p.m., at Pittsburgh Ice Arena.
The U18 AAA Midget Major Stars will open THF - Pittsburgh Showcase play on Friday, Sept 20, with a 12:00 p.m. opening face-off against Compuware, at Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA. Then on Saturday, the Midget Major Stars will take to the ice twice. First up will be a 8:15 a.m. game against the San Jose Jr Sharks. Then early Saturday evening, the Stars will face the Colorado Thunderbirds, 6:00 p.m. Both games will be at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena. The U18 Stars will close the THF - Pittsburgh Showcase against the U18 Lincoln Stars at 12:00 p.m., also at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena.
Elsewhere, the U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Stars, U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Stars and U14 AAA Bantam Major Stars will all open their 2024-25 T1HF league schedules as all three teams venture to Warminster, PA, and the Revolution Ice Gardens to face the Revolution Elite in a pair of weekend games.
The U12 AAA Pee Wee Major Stars and U12 Revolution Elite are set for league games at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday and 10:50 a.m. on Sunday.
The U13 White AAA Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars and the U13 Revolution Elite are set for THF league games at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday and 9:50 a.m. on Sunday.
And the U14 AAA Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars and the U14 Revolution Elite are set for THF league games at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The U13 Red AAA Bantam Minor Stars will enjoy a scheduled off weekend.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for an Exciting Weekend of Hockey
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) and the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF), return to the ice this weekend, Sept 13 - 15, at five levels of exciting AAA action as they continue to celebrate the Star's 40th season of action.
The U14 Bantam Major, U13 Red Bantam Minor, and the U13 White Bantam Minor Pittsburgh Stars will all travel to Rochester, NY, for the Just Get Good Tournament this weekend.
The U14 Stars will open play on Friday, Sept 6, against the Mid-Fairfield Jr Rangers at 4:30 p.m., at Tim Horton's Ice Plex in Rochester, NY. Then on Saturday, the Stars will take to the ice twice. First up will be Rochester Jr Americans at 3:00 p.m., at the Gene Polisseni Center, in Rochester. The Stars will then conclude round-robin play at 3:45 p.m. back at Tim Horton's Ice Plex against Atlantic Coast Academy. Opponents, game times and rinks for semi-final, and consolation games will be determined following the conclusion of round-robin play.
The U13 Red Bantam Minor squad will open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the PAL Jr Islanders at 8:00 a.m., at the Canandaigua Civic Center in Canandaigua, NY. Then later on Friday, the Stars will face the New Jersey Colonials at 3:00 p.m., at Tim Horton's Ice Plex in Rochester, NY. On Saturday, the Stars will conclude round-robin play with a 10:00 a.m. opening face-off against the Amherst Knights, back at Tim Horton's Ice Plex. Opponents, game times and rinks for quarter-final, semi-final, and consolation games will be determined following the conclusion of round-robin play.
The U13 White Bantam Minor squad will open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the NYC Skyliners at 9:45 a.m., at the Ingle Ice Arena in Canandaigua, NY. Then later on Friday, the Stars will face CP Dynamo at 3:00 p.m., at Tim Horton's Ice Plex in Rochester, NY. On Saturday, the Stars will conclude round-robin play with an 8:00 a.m. opening face-off against the Buffalo Regals, back at Tim Horton's Ice Plex. Opponents, game times and rinks for quarter-final, semi-final, and consolation games will be determined following the conclusion of round-robin play.
Meanwhile the U18 and U16 Pittsburgh Stars will open their respective 2024-25 home schedules as they welcome Team Maryland into the friendly confines of Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA, on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Sept 14, the U16 Stars and Team Maryland will open the home stand weekend at 5:00 p.m. The Midget Major Stars and Team Maryland will then take to the ice at 7:00 p.m. Then on Sunday, Sept 15, the U16 squads return to the ice at 9:00 a.m.; followed by the U18 squads at 11:00 a.m.
Both the U15 and U12 Stars will enjoy an open weekend.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season, excluding tournaments and showcases, as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Stars Set for Second Opening Weekend
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) and the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF), will have all seven AAA teams in action this upcoming weekend, Sept 6 - 8, as they celebrate the 2024-25 Season Opening Weekend.
(The 18U, 16U, 15U and 12U squads all began play two weeks ago to accommodate opponent schedules.)
The U18, U16, U15 and U14 Pittsburgh Stars will travel to Chicago, IL, for the Steel City Ice Breaker Showcase, Sept 6 - 8.
The U14 Bantam Major Pittsburgh Stars open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be Omaha Mastery at 8:00 a.m. They then will face the Chicago Fury at 2:00 p.m. On Saturday, the U14 Stars will again take to the ice twice. The first game will be against the Anaheim Jr Ducks, at 9:00 a.m. Their final game of round-robin will be against Okanagan Hockey Academy, at 1:40 p.m. Seeding for semi-final and championship play on Sunday will occur post round-robin play. All 14U games will be played at the Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills, IL.
The U15 (only) Midget Pittsburgh Stars will also open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the Chicago Reapers at 8:10 a.m. They then will face the Windy City Storm at 2:00 p.m. On Saturday, the U15 Stars will square-off against the Milwaukee Jr Admirals, at 9:50 a.m. Post round-robin play, teams will be seeded for a crossover game for Sunday, with opponent, time and rink to be determined. All 15U games will be played at the Fox Valley Arena in Geneva, IL.
The U16 Midget Minor Pittsburgh Stars will also open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the Madison Capitols at 10:00 a.m. They then will face the Florida Alliance at 4:15 p.m. On Saturday, the U16 Stars will square-off against Team Illinois, at 2:45 p.m. Post round-robin play, teams will be seeded for a crossover game for Sunday, with opponent, time and rink to be determined. All 16U games will be played at the Mt Prospects Arena in Mt Prospects, IL.
The U18 Midget Major Pittsburgh Stars will also open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the Madison Capitols at 12:00 p.m., at the Mt Prospects Arena in Mt Prospects, IL. They then will face UHF at 8:10 p.m., at theTripHahn Ice Arena in Hoffman Estates, IL. On Saturday, the U18 Stars will square-off against the Chicago Reapers, at 11:00 a.m., at the Orbit Ice Arena in Palantine, IL. Post round-robin play, teams will be seeded for a crossover game for Sunday, with opponent, time and rink to be determined.
The U13 Red Bantam Minor squads will travel to Western Ohio for a four-game road trip this weekend. On Saturday the Stars will face the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets in a pair of games. Opening face-offs are set for 11:30 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. at the Chiller Ice Works in Worthington, OH. On Sunday, the Stars will hook-up with the Columbus Capitals for a pair of games. Opening face-offs are set for 11:30 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. at the OhioHealth Ice Haus in downtown Columbus, OH.
The U13 White Bantam Minor squads will open their home schedule with a 11:30 a.m. game on Saturday, Sept 7, against the SHAHA Panthers at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA.
The U12 Pee Wee Major squad will travel to Rochester, NY, for the Just Get Good Tournament this weekend. The Stars will open play with a pair of games on Friday, Sept 6. First up will be the New Jersey Jr Titans at 9:05 a.m., at the Canandaigua Civic Center in Canandaigua, NY. They will then face the Troy- Albany Titans at 3:25 p.m., at the Rochester Ice Center, in Fairport, NY. On Saturday, the U12 Stars will square-off against the Rochester Coalition, at 11:05 a.m., at Tim Horton's Ice Plex in Rochester, NY. Opponents, game times and rinks for quarter-final, semi-final, and consolation games will be determined following the conclusion of round-robin play.
Celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars program is the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella.
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season, excluding tournaments and showcases, as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
2024-2025 Season Begins
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Program, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) and the Tier I Hockey Federation (T1HF), will kick-off the 2024-25 campaign this weekend, Aug 23 - 25, with four teams in action.
The U18 and U16 Pittsburgh Stars will open the 24-25 season, and their Tier I Hockey Federation (THF) league schedule in Bridgewater, NJ, as they face the U18 and U16 New Jersey Rockets on Friday, Aug 23, and Saturday, Aug 24.
The U16 squads will kick things off on Friday at 6:00 p.m.; followed by the U18 squads, who take to the ice at 8:00 p.m. Then on Saturday the U16s square-off at 9:00 a.m.; followed by the U18s at 11:00 a.m., each concluding their two-game season-opening series. All four games will be at the Bridgewater Sports Arena.
The U15 Midget Stars will open their 24-25 season and Tier I Hockey Federation (THF) league schedule in Rockville, MD, as they face Team Maryland on Saturday, Aug 24 and Sunday Aug 25. Opening face-offs for the two-game series are set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:40 a.m. on Sunday. Both games will be played at the Rockville Ice Arena in Rockville, MD.
The U12 Pee Wee Major Stars will open their 2024-25 season in State College, PA, with a two-game set against the U12 Philadelphia Jr Flyers on Saturday, Aug 24, at the Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University. Opening face-offs are set for 12:15 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Stars program, the oldest Tier I program in the Mid-American District of USA Hockey and one of the oldest Tier I programs under the USA Hockey umbrella, will be celebrating their 40th season.
"We are excited to celebrate our 40th year of operation," said program founder and Stars General Manager Dave Kosick. "And we certainly are looking forward to sharing this very special season with our players, families, alumni and the amateur hockey community."
Game schedules for the '24-'25 season, excluding tournaments and showcases, as well as team rosters, have all been posted to the various Pittsburgh Stars team pages on the Stars website (www.pittsburghstarshockey.com).
Hepler Signs Pro Contract with Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Lebanon Valley College's Cole Hepler has signed a professional contract with the Huntsville Havoc and will report to Huntsville immediately. The Havoc are members of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
"We're very excited that Cole is getting this opportunity to play professional hockey," said Lebanon Valley's head men's ice hockey coach Don Parsons. "Cole is an asset in every aspect of the game, including in the locker room, and on and off the ice. I have no doubt in my mind that he'll do a tremendous job and be welcomed on the Huntsville Havoc hockey team. I have had the opportunity to play with Coach Detullio (the coach of the Havoc), and I know the type of player he was and that he'll love the way Cole plays the game."
Recently, Hepler capped an impressive career wearing a Flying Dutchmen sweater. Earlier this week, the team captain was named to the All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Second Team for the third straight season, after amassing 15 points this season, good for second on the team. He scored seven goals, which was tied for first, and notched eight assists. He paced the offense with three power-play goals, as well as one game-winning goal and one short-handed tally.
In both his junior and sophomore seasons, Hepler also garnered All-MAC Second Team honors. In 2018-19, he finished third on the team with 25 points and tied for second with 17 helpers. During his sophomore season, he ranked third on the squad with 10 goals and 21 points, while leading the Dutchmen with three short-handed goals.
In LVC's return to the NCAA during his freshman year, Hepler led the squad with 32 points and 16 tallies. He earned ECAC West Rookie of the Year honors and was an Honorable Mention pick. Lebanon Valley College plays is a Div. III NCAA school who plays in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).
"LVC has molded my ability on the ice and in the classroom to the person I am today," said Hepler. "I'm thankful to Coach Parsons to the opportunity to play college hockey as a Dutchman. I have gained many memorable experiences and friends that will last a lifetime. I'm excited to start my pro career and am looking forward to where it will take me."
Hepler skated six seasons for the Stars program (from 2008 through the 2014 season), spending seasons with the Stars U14 (two seasons), U15, U16 and U18 (two seasons) squads. He wrapped up his amateur career with the Stars 18U Midget Major AAA squad during the 2013-14 season.
"This is great for Cole," said Stars General Manager Dave Kosick. "You talk about a classy young man who plays the game the right way and brings a passion and love for the game to the rink every night ... that's Cole."
Following the 2013-14 season, Hepler signed an NAHL tender with the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears. He would go on to skate the 2014-15 and 2015-16 season with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the NOJHL.
The Huntsville Havoc are 25-14-3 so far this season and sit in fourth place in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The regular season wraps up in early April, with playoffs to follow.
Tkac Earns Roster Spot with Team Slovakia
Former Esmark Stars forward Daniel Tkac has made Team Slovakia’s final roster for the 2020 World Junior Championships.
The 19-year-old, who was born in Pittsburgh and who currently skates for the Merritt Centennials in the British Columbia Hockey League, a dual American-Slovakian citizen, was invited to Team Slovakia's camp earlier this month and was named to the finalized roster for the event.
“Every kid growing up wants to make that tournament,” said Tkac upon his invitation to camp. “It’s the biggest tournament in junior hockey. When you get that chance, you want to make it happen.”
This year’s World Junior tournament is taking place, Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, in Ostrava and Třinec in the Czech Republic, right near the Slovakian border, which means Slovakia should have plenty of support all tournament long.
“I think there will be a lot of fans there,” said Tkac. “It would be amazing to play in that kind of atmosphere. I’ll be really excited.”
Although he was born in the U.S., Tkac and his family moved back to Slovakia seven years ago and that’s the country he currently calls home. He played most of his youth hockey in Slovakia, but decided to come back to North America to further his hockey career. He skated for Yuri Kroivokhija's U16 Esmark Stars squads during both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
Last year, he had 14 points in 46 regular-season games for the Centennials, but so far this year he’s the team’s third-leading scorer with 23 points in 29 contests.
Slovakia is in Group A of the World Juniors along with Finland, Kazakhstan, Sweden and Switzerland.
Tkac and the rest of his teammates are scheduled to open the tournament Dec. 27 against Kazakhstan.
Former Star on Cusp of Junior World Championship Roster
Former Esmark Stars forward Daniel Tkac, who currently skates for the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), has been invited to Team Slovakia’s selection camp for the 2020 World Junior Championships.
The 18-year-old is a dual American-Slovakian citizen who was born in Pittsburgh, but both of his parents are from Slovakia.
He left for training camp in Slovakia this past Saturday.
“I have to go into camp and play my best hockey and see how that goes,” he said. “But the opportunity is unbelievable to get that chance. You’ve just got to work hard and play your best hockey when you get there. I can’t wait.”
This year’s World Junior tournament takes place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Třinec in the Czech Republic, right near the Slovakian border, which means Slovakia should have plenty of support all tournament long.
“I think there will be a lot of fans there,” said Tkac. “It would be amazing to play in that kind of atmosphere. If it does happen, which I really hope it does, I’ll be really excited.”
The World Juniors have become a holiday tradition in Canada and it’s often said that no one cares about the tournament as much as Canadians, but for someone who’s lived in Slovakia and the U.S. his whole life, the tournament is still something he’s always dreamed of playing in.
“Every kid growing up wants to make that tournament,” said Tkac. “It’s the biggest tournament in junior hockey. When you get that chance, you want to make it happen.”
This isn’t the first time Tkac has represented his country on the international stage as he played for Slovakia at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships in 2018.
“It was an unbelievable experience to play against the top guys around the world,” he said. “It was really nice to see what that kind of hockey is like.”
Although he was born in the U.S., Tkac and his family moved back to Slovakia seven years ago and that’s the country he currently calls home. He played a lot of his youth hockey in Slovakia, but decided to come back to North America to further his hockey career.
After playing in the U.S. for the Stars, he ventured north to Merritt in 2018 to start his junior career.
With any hockey player, there’s always an adjustment period when they make the jump to the next level and Tkac was no different.
Last year, he had 14 points in 46 regular-season games, but so far this year he’s at almost a point per game with 20 in 24 contests.
“It’s a really fast league,” he said. “You have to make decisions quickly, so you have to get used to it. It took some time, but I think I’m used to it now.”
Slovakia is in Group A of the World Juniors along with Finland, Kazakhstan, Sweden and Switzerland.
Slovakia opens the tournament Dec. 27, 2019, against Kazakhstan.
STROBEL EARNS CALL-UP TO YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS (USHL)
Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) have announced that 18U goaltender Connor Strobel has been called up by the Youngstown Phantoms Junior A club of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
He will join the Phantoms (16-17-0-6) for a weekend series, Feb. 7 & 8, 2020, with the Des Moines Buccaneers (18-17-0-3) at the Mystique Ice Center in Des Moines, IA
The 17-year old Butler, PA native, a senior at Butler High School who is in his first season with the U18 AAA Stars, has an overall record of 21-1-3-1 in 26 overall appearances, with a .941 save percentage and a goals against average (GAA) of 1.47, with seven shutouts.
In nine North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances this season, Stobel (6'2", 170 lbs.) has a 7-0-0-1 record, with a .940 save percentage, a goals against average (GAA) of 1.50, and has recorded three shutouts.
"What a great opportunity for Connor," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “From the long bus ride, to the crowd, to the entire junior environment. It is an opportunity well earned.”
Strobel recently signed a tender for the 2020-2021 season with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
J.T. Schimizzi and Blake Rossi share a 'Latrobe connection'
Reprinted from the Post
by Jack Gleckler
J.T. Schimizzi and Blake Rossi hobbled out from the locker room, skates on and panting from that day’s practice.
Rossi and Schimizzi share a friendship that has forged over the last decade. They are roommates, teammates and have what they call “the Latrobe connection.”
The Pennsylvania natives are as close as two teammates can be. Both were raised near Latrobe, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and grew up 15 minutes away from each other. They began playing hockey at young ages, and both began skating before they were in kindergarten.
The duo played together on the same team for nine years — from elementary school to the Esmark Stars 18U team. Rossi tallied 18 points in 26 games, and Schimizzi totaled 29 points in 30 games over two seasons.
“It’s an awesome organization,” Rossi said. “We played our whole entire lives, but the past two years we were both on (the Stars), and last year, we made it to nationals, which is the first that team had made it in probably 10 years.”
The nine-year streak was broken when Rossi joined the Amarillo Bulls and Schimizzi joined the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League last season. Neither saw much action. They can count on one hand the number of games they played for their respective teams. The two returned to the Stars at the end of the season.
Scouts took notice of the duo during their time at Latrobe and with the Stars. Former assistant coach for Ohio Mike Gugin approached each of them with offers to join the Bobcats. Schimizzi had family ties to Ohio, his older sister and cousins were alumni. The offer was too good to pass up.
“I let (Rossi) know that OU was gonna be my plan, and he was like, ‘Well, now I got to look into it, too,‘“ Schimizzi said. “It really worked out for the best that we were able to come here together.”
Rossi and Schimizzi are looking to refine their skills together again this season. They’re only two of an 11-player freshmen class, and they both want to prove they can step into key roles immediately. Schimizzi plays center and is actively looking to be more defensive-minded. Rossi wants to be more aggressive around the net and develop a stronger presence on the ice.
Improving is how the pair plans to contribute to the cause this season. The goal of any team is to win the national championship, but the Bobcats say it’s now or never. The two want to give back to the seniors that have provided for them by winning the American Collegiate Hockey Association national championship. The Bobcats lost in the national quarterfinals last year to Iowa State.
“The consensus from the seniors this year is that we gotta win this year,” Schimizzi said. “These guys have been working their butts off for years to get to that point, and we both just want to contribute and make that happen.”
Schimizzi and Rossi will get their chance to contribute once the season kicks into gear with the Green and White scrimmage on Sept. 14.
Kucharski Selected in 2018 NHL Draft
Pittsburgh, PA - Former Esmark Stars AAA Hockey goaltender Jake Kucharski was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes on Day Two of the 2018 NHL Draft.
The 6’4"/193 lbs. native of Erie, PA, who began his climb up the ladder of development with the Esmark program's U16 club during the 2015-16 season, was selected in the seventh round, 197th overall.
During the '15-'16 season, Kucharski posted a 1.77 goals against average and .917 save percentage for the Stars, including three shut-outs, in 14 NAPHL games. Overall, in 32 Esmark 16U AAA game appearances, he finished with a .896% save percentage and a a 2.41 GAA with five shut-outs.
After the '15-'16 season, Kucharski signed a tender agreement with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). In addition, he was also selected in the ninth round of the 2016 USHL Draft, pick #140, by the Chicago Steele.
Kucharski spent most of the 2016-17 with Austin. where he played in 34 games with a save percentage of .894 and posted a goals against average of 3.31.
During the 2017-18 campaign, Kucharski skated for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL, where he returned for the current campaign.
Kucharski has also signed a letter of commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey for the Providence Friars beginning with the 2019-20 season.
"I was very proud to see Jake get selected in the Draft," said Esmark Stars U16 head coach Yuri Krivokhija, who himself was selected by the Montreal Canadians in the 10th round of the 1988 NHL draft. "He has worked really hard and stayed focused on achieving his goal," Krivokhija added, "and he is now one step closer to reaching it,"
Kucharski joins former Stars players Grant Lewis (2004 draft, second round, 40th overall) and Miles Liberati (2013 Draft, seventh round, 205th overall) in being selected in the annual NHL draft.
"As both Lewis and Liberati did, Jake has parlayed the opportunity that playing with the Stars provided him ... to chase his dreams all the way to the NHL Draft," said Stars founder and General Manager Dave Kosick. "Proving that dreams, mixed with sweat and hard work, can come true."
Former Stars Earn All-MAC Honors
Two former members of the Esmark Stars AAA program were among four players from Lebanon Valley College Dutchman that were named to the 2017-18 All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Teams, as chosen by the league's coaches.
Forward Cole Hepler and goaltender Tyler Perhac each garnered Second-Team recognition for the league’s inaugural All-League Teams.
Hepler picked up 20 points this season, and was fourth on the team in goals, with nine, and fifth on the squad in assists, with 11. He netted four goals on the man-advantage, and led LVC with three short-handed goals, including two in LVC's outdoor game against Chatham last month. The assistant captain also registered two game-winning goals on the year.
Perhac enjoyed a breakout season in 2017-18, going 6-3-1 and recording one shutout. The sophomore allowed just 2.62 goals per game and had a saves percentage of .913. His lone shutout of the season came at the Dutchmen Outdoor Classic where he stopped all 16 shots he faced against Chatham.