Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Hudson "Huddy" Howard has signed a Eastern Hockey League (EHL) tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s.

"I am so very proud of Huddy,” said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “Look in the dictionary under teammate and you will see his photo. Not only is a very talented hockey player, who can and does fill many roles, but he is also an awesome teammate and young man. He conducts himself with such a selfless nature making him the ultimate teammate.”

The 18-year-old forward from Anchorage, AK, recorded 7 points (4 goals and 3 assists), in 23 THF regular season games and 4 THF Playoff Games in helping lead the U18 Stars to the THF League Playoff Championship game.

Overall the 5'11" / 170 lbs. forward tallied 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists), including one power play goal, in 68 games played for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

The 2023-24 season was Howard's second season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program and Midget Major squad.

During the 2022-23 season, Howard recorded 6 points (4 goals and 2 assists), in 12 THF regular season games and 4 THF Playoff Games.

Overall during the 2022-23 season, Howard tallied 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists), including seven power play goals, in 70 games played for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

“Don't let stats fool you,” Kosick added. “Huddy handles multiple roles that don't always show on a scoresheet, but are just as valuable to a winning formula.” 

Howard becomes the tenth member of the 2023-2024 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program to sign a tender with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.

Howard joins 18U teammates Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors) and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, in signing tender agreements with the NAHL teams; and Hunter Furman, who signed a tender agreement with the Northern Cyclones National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

The 87s play in the EHL's s six-team South Division along with the New Jersey Bears (NJ), Pennsylvania Huntsmen (PA), Philadelphia Hockey Club (PA), Philadelphia Little Flyers (PA), and Team Maryland (MD).

Overall, the EHL has 22 clubs split into four divisions.

The 87s call the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall, NJ, home and are led by Head Coach Adam Houli.

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