Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League Tier I (NAT1HL) are pleased to announce that former 18U defenseman Ian Norkevicus has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Heading back to his home city, Norkevicus will skate with the Cougars beginning this fall.

The 5’11” right-handed defenseman spent the past two seasons with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs after tendering to the Alaska-based squad following the 2022-23 season.

This past year, 2024-25, Norkevicus led the Fairbank’s blueliners with 41 points (10G, 31A), including tallying three game-winning goals and five power-play goals in 59 games played. He finished the season with a +21 rating and was named as a Top Prospect on the undefeated Selects Black team at the NAHL’s 2025 Top Prospects Tournament.

In his debut season, 2023-24 in the NAHL, Norkevicus recorded 23 points (5G, 18A) in 47 games played for the Ice Dogs.

Prior to joining the Ice Dogs, Norkevicus skated for the Esmark Stars U18 AAA squad of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).

He finished the season as the Star’s leading scorer for defenseman registering 70 points (12G, 58A) in 70 games played.

During the 2022-23 NAPHL season, he registered 19 points (1G, 18A), in 16 NAPHL regular season appearances and added three points (1G, 2A) in four Dixon Cup Playoff appearances for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

Norkevicus culminated the 2022-23 NAPHL season being named to the All-NAPHL Tier I 18U Central Team.

He signed a tender with Fairbanks after the 2022-23 campaign and is an example of the ladder of development the NAHL promotes as part of the NAPHL T1ER tender program.

“Ian has worn the Ice Dog sweater proudly for the last two years,” said Fairbanks Head Coach Dakota Bell. “His blue-collar mentality meshed well with Fairbanks and provided him with many opportunities both on and off the ice in which he took full advantage.”

At Chatham, Norkevicus will skate for head coach Michael Gershon. The Cougars, who play in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), skate out of the Hunt Armory in Shadyside.

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