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Recent U18 AAA Esmark Stars News

Stars 18U D-Man Tenders with NAHL Club

By DLG 02/11/2025, 12:00pm EST

Watson Tenders with Maryland Black Bears

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Landon Watson has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Maryland Black Bears.

The 2024-25 season is Watson’s first season with the Pittsburgh Star’s program and Stars U18 Midget Major squad.

The (6'4" / 195 lbs.) 18-year-old from Pittsburgh, PA, has registered 3 points (3 assists), in 11 NAT1HL appearances so far this season. Overall, this season to date, Watson has tallied 24 points (6 goals, 18 assists), including three power play goals, in 50 games played for the Stars (through Feb. 9).

"Landon is a great pick-up for Philly,” said Pittsburgh Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He is an outstanding two-way defenseman, who brings a high hockey IQ and skill set to both ends of the ice.”

The Black Bears, who play in the NAHL's ten-team East Division along with the Danbury (CT) Jr Hat Tricks, Elmira (NY) Aviators, Johnston (PA) Tomahawks, Maine Nordiques, New Hampshire Mountain Kings, New Jersey Titans, Northeast (MA) Generals, Philadelphia (NJ) Rebels and Rochester (NY) Junior Americans, play in the Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Piney Orchard, MD, and are led by Head Coach Clint Mylymok.

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Stars 18U D-Man Tenders with NAHL Club

By DLG 02/10/2025, 11:00pm EST

Ng Tenders with Philadelphia Rebels

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Evan Ng has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Philadelphia Rebels.

The 2024-25 season is Ng’s third season with the Star’s program and second with the Star’s U18 Midget Major squad.

The (6'0" / 170 lbs.) 18-year-old from South Park, PA, has registered 2 points (2 assists), in 11 T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League appearances so far this season. Overall, this season to date, Ng has tallied 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists), including four power play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 47 games played for the Stars (through Feb. 9).

During the 2023-24 season, Ng registered 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), in 12 NAPHL T1ER appearances and overall tallied 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists), including one power play goal, in 60 games played for the Stars 18U squad.

During the 2022-23 season, Ng 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists), in 20 NAPHL T1ER regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff appearances and overall tallied 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in 65 games played for the U16 Stars.

"Evan is a great pick-up for Philly,” said Pittsburgh Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He is an outstanding two-way defenseman, who brings a high hockey IQ and skill set to both ends of the ice.”

The Rebels, who play in the NAHL's ten-team East Division along with the Danbury (CT) Jr Hat Tricks, Elmira (NY) Aviators, Johnston (PA) Tomahawks, Maryland Black Bear, Maine Nordiques, New Hampshire Mountain Kings, New Jersey Titans, Northeast (MA) Generals, and Rochester (NY) Junior Americans, play in the Hollydell Ice Arena in Washington Township, NJ, and are led by Head Coach Justin Hale.

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Dustin Geregach, Defenseman, Merychurst University

Pittsburgh, PA -  Former Esmark Stars standout defenseman Dustin Geregach has been nominated for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award.

The senior at Mercyhurst University skated for Esmark during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

During his two seasons with the Stars, Geregach would record 107 points (31 goals, 76 assists) and lead the U18 Stars to back-to-back USA Hockey National Championships appearances.

He would tender with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), during his second season with the Stars, joining the NAHL club for the 2020-21 season. Geregach would record 36 points (6 goals and 30 assists) in 77 games played at Johnstown.

Midway through his second season, 2021-22, with the Tomahawks, Geregach signed a letter of commitment and jumped to Mercyhurst Univeristy to play NCAA Division I hockey.

Including the half season skated with the Lakers (’21-’22), the four-year starter has recorded 55 points (14 goals, 41 assists) to date in 110 games played for Mercyhurst to date.

The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award that recognizes the top men’s college (NCAA) hockey player in the United States. The award was established in 1981 and named after Hobey Baker, a Princeton University hockey and football player who died shortly after World War I.

There are three steps involved in the award’s selection process. First, the head coaches of NCAA DI ice hockey schools nominate the top three players in their respective leagues and the top three players in the nation. College hockey fans can also participate by voting on-line  during this step. The top 10 finalists are then announced.

Next, voting begins for the “Hobey Hat Trick,” which narrows the award field from 10 finalists to three. The winner is then selected from this trio of players. The voting in this step of the process is by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Selection Committee. The committee is “a geographically balanced group of 29 individuals representing print and electronic sports media, college hockey coaches and officials, and NHL scouts.”

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner is announced during a nationally televised ceremony.

Stars fans are encouraged to vote for Geregach by visiting (https://hobeybaker.com/vote). Fans are allowed to vote once per day.

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