The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced rosters for the fifth annual NAPHL 16U All-Star Game, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, 6:00 p.m., at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, MN.

The U16 Esmark Stars AAA team had five members of their team named to the game, as forwards Anton Kuzitskiy and Cole Ferri, defensemen Ryan Hastings and Aliaksei Kosterau, and goaltender Craig Perry were announced as members of the NAPHL East Squad.

The NAPHL All-Star Games will feature players who are leading the way in the NAPHL and many of whom are considered top prospects in North America in their respective birth-years.

At the 2017-18 16U All-Star Game, both the East and West teams will consist of 23 players (12 forwards, 8 defensemen and 3 goaltenders).

Team East

Video: Meet the East All-Stars

“The NAPHL All-Star Game is a great event each season and highlight's the league’s best players up to this point in the season," said NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski.

This year's All-Star Game was pushed back a month in order to give scouts plenty of time for evaluation.

"The NAHL Central Scouting team of scouts has done a tremendous job tracking the league throughout the season and providing feedback on the top players in the NAPHL,” Zasowski added. 

The NAPHL All-Star Games are a part of the NAPHL’s fifth regular season event of the season, which will feature all NAPHL 18U and 16U teams competing in the final regular season event of the 2017-18 season.

Last season, a record number of players were tendered or drafted into the NAHL and USHL in large part because of showcase events like the NAPHL All-Star Games, along with the 18U Top Prospects tournament at the end of the season.  With a strong handful of NCAA commitments, USHL call-ups and NAHL tenders already signed, the NAPHL is expecting another banner year in terms of player advancement, including those players appearing in this year’s All-Star Game.

The All-Star teams were selected based on nominations from coaches and player evaluations from NAHL Central Scouting throughout the first four months of the season.  Additionally, consideration was given to the overall standings when determining the number of players selected from each team in addition to those players who have already signed NAHL tenders or made NCAA Division I commitments

The NAPHL All-Star Games will be broadcast live and in HD through HockeyTV.