The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club, of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), are pleased to announce that 16U forward Andrew Wells has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights. The Knights compete in the NAHL's East Division.

Wells, who has turned 17, completed his second 16U season with the Esmark program during the 2016-17 season.

The 6’2”/185 lbs. native of North Canton, OH, finished third in team NAPHL scoring this season with 23 points (10 goals, 10 assists in 22 regular season games; 1 goal, 2 assists in five playoff games), helping the Stars to the NAPHL Playoff Championship and their first ever Dixon Cup.

Wells finished second in scoring for the Stars during the overall 2016-17 campaign, registering 72 points (35 goals and 32 assists), including 15 power play goals, in 73 games played.  During the 2015-16 season, he recorded 25 points (11 goals and 14 assists) in 47 games for Esmark.

"Andrew is a big kid who plays a true power forward game,” said Esmark 16U head coach Yuri Krivokhija.  “As he has grown into his frame he has evolved his game to match.”

A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include two (2) tenders exclusively used on players from the NAPHL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 6, 2017.