Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club has announced schedules for its three AAA Midget teams for the 2019-2020 season as they celebrate their 35th season of offering Tier I hockey.

Following completion of their annual three-day Esmark Stars training camp at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in early August, and a couple of weeks of practice, the Stars three midget AAA teams are ready to engage on their 2019-2020 season journey.

The U16 Stars will get the 2019-20 season rolling as they travel to Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, Russia for a 10-day visit to participate in an exhibition tournament with five elite Russian clubs, Aug. 24-31. The team opens the regular season in Indianapolis, IN, with a three-game series against the Indy Jr. Fuel, Sept. 8 & 9.

The U15 squad will kick-off their 2019-20 schedule in Buffalo, NY, over the Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, at the 15U Buffalo Jr. Sabres Invitational.

And the U18 team, the defending Mid-American District Champion, will open at home against the Amherst Knights, Sept. 8 & 9.

All three Esmark midget teams are members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). For the 2019-20 season, the NAPHL 18U and 16U division will feature four league showcases, a 16U and 18U All-Star game and Dixon Cup playoffs; while the U15 division will feature three league showcases and Dixon Cup playoffs.

The Stars 18U team return to NAPHL league play, where they captured the 18U Dixon Cup Championship during the 2017-18 season, an honor the 16U team captured during the 2016-17 season as league playoff champions.

The 18U schedule features four NAPHL league showcases, the NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs, the Motown Classic Tournament in Detroit, the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 18U Invitational in Buffalo, and the Team Inn Invitational in Detroit.  The schedule also includes home and away series with the Amherst Knights, Cleveland Barons, Gilmour Academy, Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Predators, as well as a home stand against Skipjacks AAA Hockey and away series with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Shady Side Academy.

In addition to the Russia trip, the 16U schedule will feature four NAPHL league showcases, the NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs, the Motown Classic Tournament in Detroit, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 18U Invitational in Buffalo, STX Tournament at Notre Dame, and the Team Inn Invitational in Detroit.  The schedule also includes home and away series with the Indy Jr. Fuel, Cleveland Barons, Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Predators, as well as a home stand against Skipjacks AAA Hockey and an away series with the Amherst Knights.

The 15U schedule features three NAPHL league showcases and the NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs, the HoneyBaked/Compuware Tournament in Detroit, the Motown Classic Tournament in Detroit, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U Invitational in Buffalo, and the Team Inn Invitational in Detroit.  The schedule also includes home and away series with the Amherst Knights, Cleveland Barons, Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, Palmyra Black Knights, and Pittsburgh Predators, as well as  away series with the Mt. Lebanon Hornets and Sylvania North Stars.

Schedules for all three Esmark teams are published on each team's page.  (As schedules are announced for tournaments and showcases, dates, opponents, and times will be added.)

2019-2020 Tournament / League Showcase Schedule

18U
NAPHL Showcase I - Blaine, MN - Sept. 19 - 22, 2019
NAPHL Showcase II - Boston, MA - Oct. 4 - 6, 2019
Motown Classic - Detroit, MI - Oct. 18 - 20, 2019
Buffalo Jr. Sabres Invitational - Buffalo, NY - Nov. 1 - 3, 2019
NAPHL Showcase III - Frisco, TX -  Nov. 15 - 17, 2019
NAPHL Showcase IV - Blaine, MN -  Dec. 14 - 16, 2019
TeamInn Invitational - Detroit, MI - Jan. 10 - 12, 2020
NAPHL Playoffs - Troy, MI - Feb. 14 - 16, 2020

16U
NAPHL Showcase I - Blaine, MN - Sept. 19 - 22, 2019
NAPHL Showcase II - Boston, MA - Oct. 4 - 6, 2019
Motown Classic - Detroit, MI - Oct. 18 - 20, 2019
Buffalo Jr. Sabres Invitational - Buffalo, NY - Nov. 1 - 3, 2019
NAPHL Showcase III - Frisco, TX -  Nov. 15 - 17, 2019
STX Tournament - South Bend, IN - Nov. 29 - Dec 1, 2019
NAPHL Showcase IV - Blaine, MN -  Dec. 13 - 15, 2019
TeamInn Invitational - Detroit, MI - Jan. 10 - 12, 2020
NAPHL Playoffs - Troy, MI - Feb. 14 - 16, 2020

15U
Buffalo Sabres Jr Invitational - Buffalo, NY - Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2019
NAPHL Showcase I - Blaine, MN - Sept. 19 - 22, 2019
HoneyBaked/Compuware Tournament - Detroit, MI - Oct. 4 - 6, 2019
Motown Classic - Detroit, MI - Oct. 18 - 20, 2019
NAPHL Showcase II - Frisco, TX -  Nov. 15 - 17, 2019
TeamInn Invitational - Detroit, MI - Jan. 10 - 12, 2020
NAPHL Showcase III - Blaine, MN -  Jan. 17 - 20, 2020
NAPHL Playoffs - Troy, MI - Feb. 14 - 16, 2020