This past weekend, Oct. 20 - 22, the 18U, 16U and 15U Esmark Stars AAA Hockey teams returned to the ice for the second North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) Showcase of the 2018-19 season, at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, MN.

The U15 Stars skated to a 2-2-0-0 record at the event.  They dropped their showcase opener to the second-ranked U15 team in the country, Gentry Galaxy, 8-0; rebounded with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators; dropped a hard fought 3-1 decision to the Florida Hockey Alliance; and wrapped up the showcase with a 6-2 win over the Colorado Springs Tigers. The U15 Stars NAPHL record stands at 4-3-0-1 and their overall record at 9-7-2-1. They return to the ice next weekend in Columbus, OH, for a weekend series with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.

The U16 Stars also skated to a 2-2-0-0 record at the event.  After dropping a tough 4-3 decision to Valley Forge Minutemen in their opening game on Saturday, the U16 squad responded with a pair of victories on Sunday as they defeated the Minnesota Magicians Elite, 5-2, and in overtime the Sioux Falls Power, 3-2. Esmark's U16 closed the showcase dropping a tough 4-2 decision to the Madison Capitols on Monday. The U16 Stars NAPHL Showcase record stands at 5-2-0-1 and their overall record at 10-7-1-1. Likewise, the U16s return to the ice next weekend in Columbus, OH, for a weekend series with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.

Just as the U15 and U16 squads completed the second NAPHL League Showcase with 2-2-0-0 records, the U18 squad followed suit. The U18s opened the event with a 5-0 shutout win over Valley Forge Minutemen; then saw their six game winning streak come to an end, 3-1, at the hands of the Rink Hockey Academy Prep team out of Winnipeg, MB. The Midget Major squad then rebounded with its second shutout win of the showcase (and second for goaltender Danny Mitchell), as they skated past the Sioux Falls Power, 3-0; before dropping a tough 4-2 decision to the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders in their final showcase game of Blaine II. The U18 Stars NAPHL Showcase record now stands at (.500) 4-4-0-0 and their overall record at 14-6-1-1. The U18s will also return to the ice next weekend in Columbus, OH, for a weekend series with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.