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ESMARK STARS ANNOUNCE HEAD COACHES FOR 2019-20 SEASON

By DLG, 03/16/19, 1:00PM EDT

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Stars again led by veteran and experienced coaching staff

The Esmark Stars Tier I AAA program, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), have announced their head coaching staff for the 2019-20 season.

For the 2019-20 season, the Esmark head coaching staff will again feature veteran elite AAA coaches Yuri Krivokhija, Dave Kosick, Derik Gaworski and Eric Tisdale.

Krivokhija, a former seventh round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens and a member of the USSR and Belorussian National, Olympic and World Championship programs, will be behind the bench for the Stars for his 13th season.  In addition to his role with the Stars U16 and U18 teams, he will also continue to serve as the program's skills and training director. Krivokhija guided the Stars U16 squads to the Mid-American District Championship and the USA Hockey National Championships in 2017-18 and 2007-08 and to the NAPHL U16 Dixon Cup Championship in 2016-17.

Kosick, founder and general manager of the Esmark Stars AAA program, will return for his 36th season behind the bench. Having accumulated over 1,000 career wins, Kosick most recently guided the Stars 18U squad to the Mid-American District Championship and a spot in the 2018-19 USA Hockey National Championships. He also guided the Stars to the NAPHL U18 Dixon Cup Championship in 2017-18.

Gaworski, who has served as head coach of the U15 Stars for the past five seasons, and as goaltending coach for the Stars prior to that, will again lead the Stars U15 squad.

Tisdale, who returns to the Stars staff after a one-year hiatus, has served as a head coach in the western PA region for over 30 years and has a long legacy of successfully developing players for the next step.

In addition, the Stars coaching staff will also include Kip Gunther, Mike Heltman, Luke Kopchak, Carmen Dalesandro, goaltending instructor Karac Davis, among others.

Founded in 1984, the Stars are celebrating their 35th year, are the oldest Tier I organization in the Mid-American District and one of the oldest AAA programs under the USA Hockey Tier I level.

Esmark has offered many of the region’s top amateur ice hockey players an opportunity to showcase their skills on a national and international level over the past 35 years.

2019 - 2020 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Program Coaching Staff

18U - Dave Kosick
16U - Yuri Krivokhija
15U - Derik Gaworski
14U - Eric Tisdale
13U - TBA
Skills and Player Development Director - Yuri Krivokhija
Organization Goaltender Coach - Karac Davis