The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that Liam Varmecky, a defenseman with the Esmark Stars U15 team, was selected as the Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performer U15 Number Three Star - Defenseman for the month of October.

The award was based upon player performance at the second NAPHL event of the 2018-2019 season which took place in Blaine, MN, Oct. 20-22.

Varmecky, a native of Gibsonia, PA,  (6’2"/170 lbs.), recorded two points, both goals, in four appearances in Blaine, in helping lead the Stars to a 2-2-0-0 record at the league's second regular season showcase.

The pair of goals left Varmecky tied for fifth in the NAPHL in defenseman scoring. For the season, he has recorded five points (2 goals and 3 assists) in eight NAPHL games and overall, eight points (4 goals and 4 assists) in 19 games for the Stars U15 team.

"Liam continues to open eyes with his game," said Esmark 15U head coach Derik Gaworski. "He has created awareness in both ends of the ice."

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

The NAPHL's 15U AAA High Performance Division, in which Esmark participates, is comprised of three regular-season events leading up to its Championship Tournament, the Dixon Cup Playoffs.

The next 15U NAPHL event of the 2018-19 season, and the final regular season event of the season, will take place from Nov. 9-11, 2018, in Dallas, TX.

Now in its tenth 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 gone on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), they received recognition from NHL Central Scouting each year, dozens receive 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.