The Esmark Stars of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Andrew Murphy has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL’s East Division.

Murphy, 17, who completed his first year at 18U and second overall season playing in the NAPHL for Esmark, recorded 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 18 regular season NAPHL games this season, helping lead the Stars into the NAPHL Playoffs and their first 18U Dixon Cup as league playoff champions. In five playoff games, Murphy added 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists), including three assists in the championship game.

Overall, the 6’3" / 205 lbs. native of Youngstown, OH, recorded 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 57 games, including two powerplay goals, for the Stars U18 AAA team.

Last season, Murphy helped lead the 16U Esmark Stars team to their first ever Dixon Cup Championship, where he recorded 22 points (15 goals, 7 assists) in 27 games (22 regular season and 5 playoff games), including the game winning goals in both the semi-final and championship games.

"Murph is going to be an exciting player to watch," said Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "With his frame and skill set, and with continued development ... he is a player who could dominate at the next level."

Murphy is the fourth player from this year’s Esmark Stars 18U team who has signed an NAHL tender agreement, joining teammate Ethan Webb  in Johnstown, as well as Parker Brown (Fairbanks) and Blake Rossi (Amarillo Bulls).

A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include two (2) tenders exclusively used on players from the NAPHL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 5, 2018.