The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that Craig Perry, a goaltender with the Esmark Stars U16 team, was selected as the Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performer U16 Number One Star - Goaltender for the month of January.

The award was based upon player performance at the fifth NAPHL event of the 2017-2018 season which took place in Blaine, MN, Jan. 27-29.

Perry, a native of Export, PA,  (5’9"/145 lbs.), was perfect in two appearances in Blaine, as he turned aside all 40 shots he faced and picked up two wins in helping lead the Stars to a perfect 4-0-0-0 record at the league's final regular season showcase.

Turning aside all 16 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Valley Forge Minutemen and all 24 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders, Perry helped secure second place for the Stars in the final NAPHL league standings and the number two seed in the upcoming NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs. 

He also picked up the win for Team East in a 5-4 win over Team West in the 16U AAA All-Star game during the event.

"Craig was outstanding," said Esmark 16U head coach Yuri Krivokhija. "I am very proud of how he and his playing partner (Kenny Vought) have performed this season.  Simply said, both of them have given us a chance to win."

Perry finished the regular season with a .934 save percentage and a goals against average of 1.38.  In nine league games he compiled a 8-1-0-0 record.

After each NAPHL league event, the league's central scouting staff selects top performers (three stars), for the 18U and 16U divisions, as well as the 15U division for events in which they participate, for offense, defense and goaltending.

The NAPHL is comprised of five regular-season events leading up to its Championship Tournament, the Dixon Cup Playoffs, in which the top eight teams in each division compete for a league championship. The final NAPHL event of the 2017-18 season, the Dixon Cup Playoffs,  will take place from Feb. 16-19, 2018, at the Troy Sports Center in Troy, MI.

Now in its ninth season, the NAPHL is composed of Midget Major (18U) and Midget Minor (16U & 15U) teams from across North America that compete at the Tier I level.

The NAPHL provides an organized and competitive experience with an unrivaled scouting presence guaranteed to benefit all of the participating student-athletes and programs and has established itself as the premiere training ground for development and exposure.

Not only have players in the NAPHL received recognition from NHL Central Scouting, dozens have received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and hundreds more have been drafted and tendered by North American Hockey League (NAHL) and United States Hockey League (USHL) teams.

The NAPHL, which is sanctioned by USA Hockey, is designed to maximize the exposure of all the participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events that attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts.

For more information on the NAPHL, visit www.naphl.com.