Pittsburgh, PA - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced the rosters for the 18U and 16U T1ER Top Prospects teams that will take place in conjunction with the 2024 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament,  Feb. 5-6, 2024, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, PA.

Ten players from the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program, five at the U18 and five at the U16 level, were selected to participate in this year's event.

At the U18 Midget Major level, forwards Alex Thomas, Max Rutkowski and Mykyta Yalovyi, defenseman Mark Trischler, and goaltender Landon Buterbaugh, were all selected for the event and will play for Team Blue.

Additionally, head coach Dave Kosick and Assistant Coach Yuri Krivokhija were selected to guide Team Blue at the 18U level.

At the U16 Midget Minor level, Esmark forwards Marshall Hewitt, Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, and defenseman Talan Del Signore were all selected for the event and will play for Team White. Defenseman Julian Kemp and Goaltender Kyle McLaughlin, were also selected, and will play for Team Blue.

The 18U and 16U Top Prospects teams are collections of some of the top players from the NAPHL T1ER League teams. It is a unique opportunity for the NAPHL because no other youth league provides their players with this type of exposure, which will include all 32 NAHL teams and hundreds of NCAA and NHL scouts. 

“Year after year the T1ER League sets new records for tenders and draft picks in the NAHL, and NA3HL.  This year is no different.  Our teams have done a tremendous job of reloading on talent and moving those players on to the next level.  Many of those tendered players have found themselves on the Top Prospects rosters.  This gives them an opportunity to showcase themselves to their future teams, by playing against the other ‘best’ in the T1ER League.  Along those same lines, it gives these players an opportunity to be in the same building with our NAHL Top Prospects and have an opportunity to showcase themselves in front of NCAA teams that will also be in attendance to get a look at the Top Prospects from the NAHL.  It’s a win / win for our T1ER players participating in this event and we’re excited to include them,” said Dennis Vickers, Director of Player Personnel and Director of the NAPHL. 

Each age division will consist of two teams and 20 players (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies), totaling 80 players across the two age groups.

Selections were determined based on a combination of team submissions, NAHL Central Scouting, and Neutral Zone game reports from T1ER events.

The schedule for the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is as follows:

Monday, Feb 5

4:15 pm: T1ER Team Blue 16U vs T1ER Team White 16U  
6:45 pm: T1ER Team Blue 18U vs T1ER Team White 18U 

Monday, Feb 6
8:30 am: T1ER Team Blue 16U vs T1ER Team White 16U  
11:00 am: T1ER Team Blue 18U vs T1ER Team White 18U 

The T1ER Top Prospects Tournament is played in conjunction with the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Top Prospects Tournament. The event has quickly become one of the most highly scouted events of its kind, with hundreds of junior, NCAA and NHL expected in attendance this season.