All five Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Program teams hit the road to participate in two of the nation's top tournaments this past weekend, Oct. 6 - 8, 2017.

The U18, U16, U15 and U14 teams traveled to the Motor City, Detroit, MI, to participate in the 12th Annual HoneyBaked/Compuware Invitational Tournament, while the U12 squad hit the road to the Country Music Capital, Nashville, TN, to participate in the CCM Nashville World Invite.

In Nashville, the U12 squad dropped four games as they squared off against some of the premiere teams in North America, falling to the Boston Jr. Eagles, Compuware and eventual tournament champion Gentry Galaxy (MN), in round-robin play and tournament finalist, St. Louis Blues in quarter-final play.

The U12 squad will be in Parma, OH, for a pair of road games next Sunday, Oct. 15.

The U14 Stars skated to a 1-3-0 record in Detroit as they dropped games to eventual tournament champion Compuware (0-5), tournament finalist HoneyBaked (1-7), and the Sylvania North Stars (1-2) and picked up a win over the Tri-State Spartans (3-2) in round-robin play.

The U14 squad, (11-6-2-1), returns to the friendly confines of the Pittsburgh Ice Arena to face the Wheatfield Blades for their home opening games next Saturday, Oct. 14, at 11:00 a.m. and 4:20 p.m.

The U15 Stars skated to a 2-2-0-1 record in Detroit as they dropped decisions to eventual tournament champion and the number two team in the country, Minnesota Blades, and tournament finalist HoneyBaked (1-7), while picking up a shut-out win over the Nashville Jr. Predators (5-0) in round-robin play.

Relegated to the Silver Division Playoffs, Esmark's U15 squad skated past the Pittsburgh Predators (5-4) in semi-final action before dropping a overtime / shootout decision (3-4) to the Wheatfield Blades in the Silver Division Championship game.

The U15's, (7-12-2-1), will enjoy a open weekend before returning to North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) action, Oct. 20-23, in Blaine, MN.

The U16 Stars skated to a 4-2-0-0 record in Detroit as they dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions to the New Jersey Jr. Devils National team and eventual tournament finalist Compuware and skated to a win, 3-1, over the Dayton Stealth in round-robin play.

Relegated to the Silver Division Playoffs, Esmark's U16 squad ran the table as they defeated Team Ohio (3-1), in the quarter-finals, the Philadelphia Little Flyers (3-0), in the semi-finals, and skated past the Cheektowaga Warriors (4-0) in the Silver Division Championship game.

The U16's, (9-7-1-0), will enjoy a open weekend before returning to North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) action, Oct. 21-23, in Blaine, MN.

The U18 Stars skated to a 2-2-0-0 record in Detroit. They captured their four-team bracket bracket with a 2-1-0 record, handing eventual tournament champion TPH's Michigan Hockey Advancement their only loss (7-4) in the tournament's opening game; dropping a tough (1-2) decision to the East Coast Spartans, despite outshooting them (26-11); and earning the bracket number one seed with a (6-1) win over the Tri-State Spartans. 

In the tournament's Gold Division Playoffs, the Stars would drop a tough (2-3) decision to the Tampa Scorpions.

The U18's, (9-7-0-3), will enjoy a open weekend before returning to North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) action, Oct. 21-23, in Blaine, MN.