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Weekend Preview: Sept 15 - 18

By DLG, 09/12/22, 2:00PM EDT

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Stars set for road trips to Minneapolis and Cleveland

Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Program will be in full swing this upcoming week, Sept. 15 - 18.

Four of  Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Program's teams open North American Prospects Hockey League (NAHPL) play in Blaine, MN, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 15.

The opening NAPHL event ... billed at the "Greatest Show on Ice" ... will feature not only the NAPHL, but also all of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Junior A teams, Team USA's National U18 team, and Minnesota High School All-Stars teams. Over 350 Scouts, representing the NHL, NCAA Division I and III teams, USHL and Canadian Junior league (OHL, QMJHL and the WHL), will be in attendance. The Schwann's Super Rink is the largest indoor ice facility in North America and features eight indoor rinks.

The U18 Stars (6-2-0-0) open 2022-23 NAPHL play on Thursday, Sept 15, at 12:00 p.m. against Minnesota based Walleye 18U. On Friday, Sept 16, the Stars play the Colorado Springs Tigers at 9:15 a.m. On Saturday, Sept 17, the Stars Midget Major team will face Minnesota-based Grey Ducks 18U, 8:00 p.m. The 18U Stars conclude the first NAPHL Showcase on Sunday, Sept 18, 11:30 a.m., against Omaha Mastery. The two Minnesota teams are comprised of Minnesota high school players who are preparing for the upcoming Minnesota high school season. All games will be at the Super Rink in Blaine.

The U16 Stars (5-2-0-1) open 2022-23 NAPHL play on Thursday, Sept 15, at 4:00 p.m. against Minnesota-based Walleye 16U AAA. On Friday, Sept 16, the Stars play the Colorado Springs Tigers at 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sept 17, the Stars Midget Minor team will face United Hockey Federation 16U, 4:00 p.m. The 16U Stars conclude the first NAPHL Showcase on Sunday, Sept 18, 9:30 a.m., against Omaha Mastery. All games will be at the Super Rink in Blaine.

The U15 Stars (2-3-0-0) open 2022-23 NAPHL play on Thursday, Sept 15, at 8:15 p.m. against the Madison Capitols, at the Fogerty Rink in Blaine, MN. On Friday, Sept 16, the Stars play the Colorado Springs Tigers, 8:00 a.m., at the Super Rink in Blaine. On Saturday, Sept 17, the Stars 15U squad will face the Valley Forge Minutemen U15, 8:15 a.m. Esmark's 15U team will conclude the first NAPHL Showcase on Sunday, Sept 18, 7:15 a.m., against Minnesota-base Polars U15 AAA, at the Super Rink in Blaine.

Likewise, the U14 Stars (1-3-0-0) will open 2022-23 NAPHL in Minnesota with four games against Minnesota-based AAA squads. On Thursday, Sept 15, at 2:00 p.m., the Stars square-off against Minnesota-based Loons 14U AAA. On Friday, Sept 16, the Stars play the Minnesota-based Lakers 14U AAA at 3:15 p.m. On Saturday, Sept 17, Esmark's 14U squad team will face the Minnesota-based Green Giants 14U AAA, 1:30 p.m. The 14U Bantam Major Stars conclude the first NAPHL Showcase on Sunday, Sept 18, 7:45 a.m., against the Minnesota-based Blue Ox 14U AAA. All games will be at the Plymouth Ice Center in Plymouth, MN.

Meanwhile, the U13, U12 and U11 teams will be in Cleveland, OH, for Showcase games.

The Stars Bantam Minor U13 AAA team (3-6-0-0) travel west on the PA / OH Turnpikes to Cleveland for three games. On Saturday, the Stars open play with a 4:00 p.m. game against Team Wisconsin, at the Mentor Arena in Mentor, OH. Later Saturday evening, 8:30 p.m., the Stars will face the Tri-State Spartans at the Serpentini Arena in Lakewood, OH. On Sunday, Esmark will hit the ice in a rematch with Team Wisconsin, 8:30 a.m., on the campus of Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, OH.

The U12 Esmark Stars AAA team will be in Cleveland for a five-game Showcase, Sept 16 - 18. On Friday, the Pee Wee Majors open their 2022-23 season with a 1:15 p.m. contest against Compuware U12 at the C.E. Orr Arena in Euclid, OH. Friday evening, 7:15 p.m., the 12U Stars will square-off with Team Illinois back at the Orr Arena. Saturday afternoon, 1:00 p.m., the Stars will tangle with Victory Honda at the Winterhurst Arena in Cleveland, OH. Then the Stars get right back after it at 4:15 p.m., with a game versus the Buffalo Regals at Winterhurst. Esmark's 12U squad closes the Showcase with a 9:40 a.m. game on Sunday against Team Wisconsin at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, OH.

Finally, the U11 Esmark Stars (3-2-0-0) will also be in Cleveland for a five-game weekend.  On Friday, Sept. 16, they square-off with the Cleveland Barons, 8:00 p.m., at the North Olmstead Recreation Center in North Olmstead, OH.  On Saturday morning, 10:00 a.m., they will skate against Team Illinois at the Mentor Ice Arena in Mentor, OH. Saturday afternoon, the Stars will face-off against the Buffalo Regals, at 6:15 p.m. at the C.E. Orr Arena in Euclid, OH. On Sunday morning, 9:45 a.m., the Stars and Barons will hook-up for a second game at the Orr Arena in Euclid. They close the five-game weekend back at Orr Arena with a 12:45 p.m. rematch with Team Illinois.