Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League have announced that 16U Esmark Stars AAA Hockey forward Emmet McClaine has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Johnstown Tomahawks.

The 16-year-old forward from Chicora, PA, has recorded 7 points (4 goals and 3 assists), including two shorthanded goals, in eight T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League games to date.

Overall the 5'10" / 170 lbs. forward has tallied 42 points (16 goals, 22 assists), including three power play and three shorthanded goals, in 36 games played for Esmark's U16 AAA Midget Minor squad (through Jan. 1).

The 2023-24 season is McClaine’s third season overall with the Esmark Stars program.

During the 2022-23 season, McClaine registered 16 points (10 goals, 6 assists), in 13 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances (eight regular season and five Dixon Cup T1ER Playoff games) helping lead Esmark to the U15 AAA Midget Minor T1ER Dixon Cup Championship.

Overall during the 2022-23 season, McClaine tallied 60 points (40 goals, 20 assists), including two power play goals and six shorthanded goals, in 60 games played for the 15U Stars squad.

During the 2021-22 season, McClaine registered 27 points (17 goals, 10 assists), in 20 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances (16 regular season and four Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games) for the Stars U14 AAA Bantam Major team.

Overall during the 2021-22 season, McClaine tallied 76 points (46 goals, 30 assists), including 13 power-play and five short-handed goals, in 60 games played for the 14U Esmark squad.

"Emmet is an extremely talented player who mixes a combination of offensive skills with grit and determination,” said Esmark 16U head coach Yuri Krivokhija. "His continued development will ultimately provide Johnstown with a very talented forward with the promise of being a solid offensive threat.”

McClaine becomes the first member of the 2023-24 Esmark Stars U16 team and the fifth overall 2023-2024 Esmark Stars player to sign a tender with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.

McClaine joins U18 Esmark Stars Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks) and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), who had all previously signed tender agreements with the NAHL teams.

The Tomahawks, who play in the NAHL's nine-team East Division along with the Danbury Hat Tricks (CT), Maine Nordiques, Maryland Black Bears, New Hampshire Mountain Kings, New Jersey Titans, Northeast (MA) Generals, Philadelphia (PA) Rebels and Rochester (NY) Jr Americans, play in the Johnstown War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA, and are led by Head Coach Michael Letizia.

# # #