Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Edward Pazo has signed a NCDC tender agreement with the USPHL's Northern Cyclones.

A native of Jefferson Hills, PA, the 18-year old senior at Thomas Jefferson High School has skated for the Stars for three seasons, two seasons with Esmark's U18 team and one season with their 16U team.

During the 2020-21 season, Pazo (6'3", 200 lbs.) registered 18 points (8 goals, 10 assists), including two power play goals and one game-winning-goal, in 16 regular season NAPHL games and 5 points (5 assists) in five NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for the U18 AAA Stars. Overall, Pazo registered 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists), including 3 power play goals on the season in 52 games played.

During the 2019-20 season, he registered 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in 16 regular season NAPHL games and 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in five NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for the U18 AAA Stars. Overall, Pazo registered 92 points (33 goals, 59 assists), including 13 power play goals and a +57 plus/minus rating on the season in 62 games played, helping lead Esmark’s Midget Major squad to the Mid-American District Championship and a spot as District Champions in the 2020 USA Hockey 18U Tier I National Championships.

During the 2018-19 season, Pazo registered 16 points (6 goals, 6 assists), including 3 power play goals, in 15 NAPHL regular season games and 7 points (1 goal, 6 assist) in four NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for the Stars U16 AAA squad. Overall, Pazo registered 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists), including 3 power play goals, in 53 games played for Esmark.

"Ed is blessed with the size of a power forward and mixed with his skill set, teams from multiple leagues have expressed interest in securing his junior rights," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. 

Pazo is the fifth player from the 2020-2021 U18 AAA squad to sign a tender with a Junior A club. He joins teammates Ryder Brophy, forward, Lone Star Brahmas; Zachary Stoner, defenseman, Johnstown Tomahawks; Nathan Dickey, goaltender, Kenai River Brown Bears; and Yahor Ramanau, defenseman, Wichita Falls Warriors.

The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), which plays under the USPHL moniker, is a 13-team tuition-free junior hockey league entirely located in the Northeastern United States. The league and all of its teams are fully united and dedicated to the mission of player development and advancement to college hockey.