Recent U18 AAA Esmark Stars News
18U DEFENSEMAN COMMITS TO NAHL CLUB
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Tier I Hockey League (NAT1HL) are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Ethan Bombalski has signed a tender agreement with the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Colorado Grit Junior A team.
The 2024-25 season is Bombalski’s second season with the Star’s program and second with the Star’s U18 Midget Major squad.
The (5'10" / 180 lbs.) 18-year-old from Apollo, PA, registered 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists), including one power play goal and one game winning goal, in 14 NAT1HL regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff appearances. Overall, for the 2024-2025 campaign, Bombalski, a Kiski Area High School senior, tallied 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists), including five power play goals, in 68 games played for the Stars.
During the 2023-24 season, Bombalski, registered 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists), in 17 NAT1HL regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff appearances, including one power play goal and overall tallied 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists), including one power play goal, in 58 games played for the Stars 18U squad.
"Ethan is a great pick-up for Colorado,” said Pittsburgh Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He is without a doubt among the best players, and certainly one of the top defensemen, in the NAPHL T1ER League and will bring a very high-level two-way game to Colorado and the Grit.”
Bombalski was named to the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League All-Tournament teams from the 2025 Dixon Cup Playoffs, where he recorded five points (2G, 3A) and a +5 rating in three round-robin wins (Madison Capitols, Wasatch Renegades, Philly Hockey Club) and a semi-final loss (Lincoln Stars); named to the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League Season Second Team; and was selected and participated in the (NAPHL) T1ER Top Prospect Showcase.
“Ethan is a good defender, difficult to play against and obviously has the ability to put up points which checks a lot of boxes for us,” stated Grit Head Coach Kevin Holmstrom. “He has a great attitude, is driven and comes from a outstanding program and staff in coach Dave Kosick in Pittsburgh. We look forward to seeing him in Greeley!”
The Grit, who skate in the NAHL's nine-team South Division, along with the Amarillo (TX) Wranglers, Corpus Christi (TX) IceRays, El Paso (TX) Rhinos, Lone Star (TX) Brahmas, New Mexico Ice Wolves, Odessa (TX) Jackalopes, Oklahoma Warriors, and the Shrevport (LA) Mudbugs, play in the Greeley Ice Haus in Greely, CO, and are led by Head Coach Kevin Holmstrom.
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Eight Pittsburgh Stars Honored
Frisco, TX - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League has announced rosters for the T1ER Top Prospects teams set to compete March 28 - 30, 2025, at the St. Peters Rec Plex in St. Peters, MO.
Each of the four teams at the Top Prospects will feature 20 players (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies), combined from both the 18U and 16U T1ER levels.
Eight players from the Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey program, five at the U18 and three at the U16 level, were selected to participate in this year's event and will represent the Star’s program.
Selected from the U18 Pittsburgh Stars were forwards Danila Shiriaev (Team Red) and Ian Morganti (Team White), defenseman Evan Ng (Team Red) and Ethan Bombalski (Team Gold), and goaltender Landon Buterbaugh (Team Blue).
Selected from the U16 Pittsburgh Stars were forwards Joseph Crimboli (Team Blue) and Alex Patsilevas (Team Gold), and goaltender Nikita Oleksiienko (Team White).
The teams will be coached by coaches from the NAHL and NA3HL, as well as other top leagues, at the Showcase.
"Year-after-year the T1ER League sets new records for tenders and draft picks in the NAHL and NA3HL,” said Dennis Vickers, Director of Player Personnel and Director of the NAPHL, “and this year is no different.”
“Our clubs have done a tremendous job of reloading on talent and moving players onto the next level. And many of those tendered players have found themselves on Top Prospects rosters, giving them an opportunity to showcase themselves to their future teams by playing against the other ‘best’ in the T1ER League,” Vickers added.
Player selection for the Showcase were determined through a combination of team submissions, NAHL Central Scouting reports, and input from Neutral Zone game reports from this past season’s T1ER events.
This season’s T1ER Top Prospects Showcase is being played in conjunction with the North American Hockey League's (NA3HL) Fraser Cup Championships and a NAHL Scouting Combine in St. Louis.
“Partnering this event with the NA3HL Fraser Cup and the St Louis NAHL Combine gives participating players an opportunity to be seen by the numerous teams and scouts that will be in attendance for the event,” Vickers continued.
“It’s another great opportunity for our T1ER players to be seen, as well as coaches and scouts participating in this event, and we’re excited to host this event.”
Selections for the event were determined based on a combination of NAHL Central Scouting and Neutral Zone game reports from T1ER events this past season, as well as team submissions.
The schedule for the NAPHL T1ER Top Prospects Showcase is as follows:
Friday, March 28
1:45 PM - Team Blue vs. Team White
3:45 PM - Team Gold vs. Team Red
Saturday, March 29
8:00 AM - Team White vs. Team Red
10:00 AM - Team Gold vs. Team Blue
5:15 PM - Team White vs. Team Gold
7:15 PM - Team Red vs. Team Blue
Sunday, March 30
9:30 AM - Seed #3 vs. Seed #4
2:15 PM - Seed #1 vs. Seed #2
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Three Pittsburgh Stars Honored
Frisco, TX - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) T1ER League has announced the 2024-2025 All-T1ER Teams and Coaches of the Year from the ‘24-‘25 regular season.
The All-T1ER 1st and 2nd Teams were selected from the 16U and 18U divisions based on their outstanding performances during the regular season and the 2025 Dixon Cup Playoffs.
At the U16 level, forward Joseph Crimboli and goaltender Nikita Oleksiienko were named to the 16U All-T1ER 1st Team.
Crimboli enjoyed a solid NAT1HL season, helping lead the Stars to the Regular season and post season titles, as he posted 21 points (12 goals, 9 assists) in 17 regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff games, including 1 power play goal and 1 game-winning goal, in helping lead the Stars to the regular season championship and the finals of the NAT1HL Dixon Cup Playoffs.
Oleksiienko enjoyed an outstanding NAT1HL season, helping lead the Stars to the regular season championship and the finals of the NAT1HL Dixon Cup Playoffs, posting a 10-3-0-0 record, a goals against average of 1.50, a save percentage of .957, and recording three shutouts (all in succession in the NAT1HL Dixon Cup Playoffs).
At the U18 level, Defenseman Ethan Bombalski was named to the 18U All-T1ER 2nd Team.
Bombalski helped anchor the Star's U18 squad’s defensive corps as he posted 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 12 regular season and 4 Dixon Cup Playoff games, including 1 power play goal and 1 game winning goal.
The NAPHL and its T1ER League were founded in 2009 and completed its 16th campaign with the 2024-25 season.
The T1ER season featured six regular-season events held across the United States, spanning from New Hampshire to New Mexico, with multiple stops in between. With NAHL & NA3HL scouts in attendance at every event, players received invaluable exposure to the North American Hockey League and family of leagues. Thanks to this visibility and the league's strong affiliation with the NAHL, nearly 50 players have already signed tenders for the 2025-26 season.
"This has been another great season of T1ER Hockey!” Dennis Vickers, Director of Player Personnel for the NAHL said. “Our coaches and players continue to do an outstanding job representing the T1ER League, and our teams have been instrumental in advancing players to the NAHL.”
“With 75 players tendered last year and nearly 50 already this season, we are on track for another record-breaking year—something we take great pride in," Vickers added.
The NAPHL T1ER congratulates all players and coaches recognized and looks forward to another successful season of development, advancement, and exposure.
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AIDAN MOSKOVITZ TENDERS WITH BOSTON DOGS
- By DLG 03/10/2025, 7:00pm EDT
Stars 18U D-Man Tenders with NAHL Club
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Stars 18U D-Man Tenders with NAHL Club
- By DLG 02/10/2025, 11:00pm EST
Former Stars D-Man Nominated for Hobey Baker Award
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Pittsburgh Stars to Honor Slain Officer Brian Shaw
- By DLG 12/19/2024, 12:15am EST