The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that Parker Brown, a forward with the Esmark Stars U18 team, was selected as the Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performer U16 Number One Star - Forward 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.

A native of Hanahan, SC,  Brown showed why he is an NAHL prospect as he recorded 11 points in four games to lead the Stars to a 3-1-0-0 record and secure a birth in the upcoming NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs.

Brown (5’10"/150 lbs.), who had points in all four games, including three multi-point games, was also selected to and participated in the NAPHL 18U All-Star Game during the event, where he recorded an assist.

His 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) this season led the Stars 18U team and tied for sixth in final regular season stats for the NAPHL 18U Division.

Overall, Brown, who was tendered by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) earlier in the season, has recorded 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) including 4 power play goals, in 48 games, helping lead the Stars to a current overall record of 26-14-2-6 record.

"Brownie has been awesome," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He has answered every call and brought it every shift."

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 the Dixon Cup Championships 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,  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.