Recent U16 AAA Esmark Stars News
ESMARK STARS 16U DEFENSEMAN COMMITS TO NAHL CLUB
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League have announced that Esmark Stars 16U AAA Hockey defenseman Talan Del Signore has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minnesota Wilderness.
"Talan is an extremely gifted player,” said Star’s U16 head coach, Yuri Krivokhija. “His skill set at his age is off the charts.”
The 17-year-old defenseman from Trafford, PA, recorded 5 points (3 goals and 2 assists), in 12 T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League appearances.
Overall the 5'8" / 165 lbs. defenseman tallied 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists), including four power-play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 45 games played for the Star’s U16 AAA Midget Minor squad.
The 2023-24 season was Del Signore’s first season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program.
“Talan has only truly begun to tap into his talent,” Krivokhija added. “It will be fun to see how he progresses.”
Del Signore becomes the 14th member of the 2023-2024 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program to sign a tender or come to an agreement with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.
Del Signore joins 18U teammates Nathan Burlando (Minnesota Mallards), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Jacob Stock (Watertown Shamrocks), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, who all signed tender agreements with NAHL teams; Jackson Furman, who signed a tender agreement with the Northern Cyclones National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL); Hudson Howard, who signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL); and Carmen D’Ambrosio who signed a player agreement with the Florida Eels of the USPHL, in committing to a junior team for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Wilderness play in the NAHL's eight-team Midwest Division along with the Anchorage Wolverines (AK), Chippewa Steel (WI), Fairbanks Ice Dogs (AK), Janesville Jets (WI), Kenai River Brown Bears (AK), Springfield Jr Blues (IL), and Wisconsin Windego.
The Wilderness play in the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, Minnesota, and are led by Head Coach David Boitz.
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Kosick, Thomas and Kemp Honored
Frisco, TX - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League has to announce All-T1ER teams and coaches of the year from the 2023-2024 Regular Season. All-T1ER 1st Teams and 2nd Teams were selected from the 16U and 18U divisions based upon performance throughout the 2023-2024 regular season and 2024 Dixon Cup Playoffs.
“Congratulations to all of our players, coaches, and teams on a successful 15th Season of T1ER hockey,” said Dennis Vickers, Director of Player Personnel and Director of the NAPHL. "The players and coaches on the All-T1ER Teams enjoyed spectacular seasons and should be proud of their accomplishments. With the majority of these players having tenders signed to the NAHL, it will be exciting to continue to follow their development in the NAHL."
At the U18 level, Head Coach Dave Kosick was selected as the 18U T1ER Coach of the Year and forward Alex Thomas was named to the 18U All-T1ER 1st Team.
At the U16 level, defenseman Julian Kemp was named to the 16U All-T1ER 2nd Team.
Kosick guided the Stars Midget Major Squad to the NAT1HL Regular Season title as the 18U squad skated to an 11-1-0-0 regular season record, and to the league's Dixon Cup Playoff title, where his Midget Major squad captured the league's playoff championship with a perfect 5-0-0-0 record, capped off with a 4-1 win over CarShield AAA in the championship game.
Thomas enjoyed a solid NAT1HL season, helping lead the Stars to the Regular season and post season titles, as he posted 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in 12 regular season games, including 2 power play goals and 3 game-winning goals, and 4 points (all goals), including 2 power play goals, in 5 Dixon Cup Playoff games.
Kemp helped anchor the Star's U16 squads defensive corps as he posted 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 12 regular season games, including 1 power play goal, and 5 points (2G, 3A), including 2 power play goals, in 4 Dixon Cup Playoff games.
The NAPHL and it’s T1ER League were founded in 2009 and completed it’s 15th year with 2023-24 season.
The success of its teams on the national stage, as well as the success of T1ER players at the next levels of hockey, is further proof that the league is redefining exposure and has become the marquee place to play for elite level players, ages 13-18.
The T1ER League has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement in recent seasons due to enjoying the opportunities provided by the Multi-Advancement Path to all levels of junior hockey.
In the last five years, no other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players tendered in the NAHL than the T1ER League.
Stars Well Represented with Six Players Selected
Troy, MI - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League has announced All-Tournament teams from their 2024 Dixon Cup Playoffs at the U18, U16 and U15 levels.
Esmark was well represented on the three "All-Tournament Teams" as they have six players in total named to the various teams.
At the U18 Midget Major division, forward Timur Naletov, defenseman Liam Wiseman and goaltender Hleb Subach were all recognized with placement on the league's 18U "All Tournament Team."
At the U16 Midget Minor division, forward Emmet McClaine was recognized with placement on the league's 16U "All Tournament Team."
And at the U15 (only) Midget Minor division, forward Nar-Ulan Baiken and defenseman Derek Schliebner were both recognized with placement on the league's 15U "All Tournament Team."
The 2024 T1ER Dixon Cup Playoffs, which took place, Feb. 16-19, in suburban Detroit, saw the league, in its 15th season, crown its 2024 Playoff Champions at the 18U, 16U, 15U, 14U, 13U, and 12U levels.
The Esmark Stars U18 captured the 2024 T1ER Dixon Cup Playoffs championship at the Midget Major level with a 4-1 win over CarShield AAA in the 18U Championship game.
Likewise, the Esmark Stars U12 Red squad captured the 2024 T1ER Dixon Cup Playoffs Trophy with a 4-3 overtime win over the Sylvania North Stars.
McLaughlin Named Peak Performer
- By DLG 03/07/2024, 11:30pm EST
11 Esmark Players Selected to NAT1HL Top Prospects Showcase
- By DLG 01/31/2024, 6:00am EST
16U FORWARD COMMITS TO NAHL CLUB
- By DLG 01/23/2024, 11:45am EST
16U FORWARD COMMITS TO NAHL CLUB
- By DLG 01/01/2024, 8:30pm EST