Former Esmark Stars U18 Defenseman Dustin Geregach has announced his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA.

Geregach, 20, who is in his second full season playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the Johnstown Tomahawks, will be joining the Lakers immediately after the Christmas break and will begin his collegiate career as the calendar turns to 2022.

“I’m super excited to get started with Mercyhurst,” said Geregach. “I think it’s awesome that I have an opportunity to make an impact as soon as I get there.”

Geregach, who served as an assistant captain for the Tomahawks, has impacted the Johnstown scoresheet this season, posting 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) in 28 games. Last year, in his first season with the Tomahawks, the 6’0/185 lbs. native of McKees Rocks, PA, tallied 17 points in 49 games. He was also selected to and played in the 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the East Division team in Blaine, MN.

Prior to Johnstown, Geregach spent a couple of seasons, 2018-19 and 2019-20, with the Esmark Stars 18U AAA team, helping lead the Stars to consecutive Mid-American District Championships and automatic berths at the USA Hockey U18 Tier I National Championships.

"Dusty has remained laser focused on his goals since the first day he put on a Esmark Stars uniform," offered Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "And this day is one he has worked his tail off to achieve."

 "He is a great young man who will not only help Mercyhurst on the ice ... but perhaps more importantly he will add to their student population the type of young man that any and all schools of higher education would love to call one of theirs," Kosick added.

During the 2019-20 season, Geregach tallied 60 points, 17 goals and 43 assists, in 62 games played for the Stars, including 10 power play goals, and +/- rating of +59 in helping lead the Midget Major club to a 47-7-6-3 overall record. This included 19 points, 6 goals and 13 assists, in 21 NAPHL regular season and playoff games played.

During the 2018-19 season, Gereagch tallied 47 points, 14 goals and 33 assists, in 61 games played for Esmark, including 5 power play goals and a +/- rating of +48 in helping lead the Midget Major club to a 46-14-1-1 overall record. This included 17 points, 3 goals and 14 assists, in 19 NAPHL regular season and playoff games played.

He also appeared in the 2019-20 NAPHL All-Star Game and the 2019 NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament for the East team.

"This is another example of the NAPHL to NAHL to NCAA ladder of development," offered NAPHL Commissioner Tony Zasowski. "Esmark was instrumental in getting Dusty on the right pathway that would lead his journey to Division I hockey."