The Esmark Stars U16 and U18 Midget teams return to the ice this weekend (Jan. 5 - 6), as they travel to Detroit, MI to kick-off the 2019 portion of their 2018-19 season.

Yuri Krivokhija and the U16 Stars will face the nation's number #1 and #3 U16 squads Little Caesar's (#1) and Oakland Grizzlies (#3). First up are the #3 Oakland Grizzlies (28-8-1-0), with opening face-off scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Troy Ice Complex, in Troy, MI. On Sunday, the Stars and #1 Little Caesars (31-7-0-0) square-off with a 9:10 a.m. game at the Little Caesar's Arena (home of the Detroit Red Wings). The U16 Stars, who will bring a 19-12-2-2 record into 2019, will return to NAPHL action Jan. 19-21, 2019, in Troy, MI, for NAPHL Showcase IV.

The U18 Stars, under the direction of Dave Kosick, take on Little Caesar's 18U AAA squad (16-19-2-0) on Saturday, Jan. 5. 12:30 p.m., at the Oak Park Ice Arena in Oak Park, MI.  The U18 Stars, who will bring a 28-12-2-2 record into 2019, will return to NAPHL action Jan. 19-21, 2019, in Troy, MI, for NAPHL Showcase IV.

Derik Gaworski and the U15 Stars will return to action the following weekend, Jan 11-13, 2019, at the Legacy Mid-Winter Classic in Detroit.  The U15 Stars, who will bring a 19-9-2-3 record into 2019, return to NAPHL action Jan. 18-20, 2019, in Troy, MI, for NAPHL U15 Dixon Cup Playoffs.

"This is a great way for us to kick-off 2019 ," said program general manager Dave Kosick.  "Traveling to Detroit to play against elite Michigan squads will certainly present huge challenges."