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

The award was based upon player performance at the fifth NAPHL event of the 2018-2019 season which took place in Troy, MI, Jan. 18-21.

Virag, a senior at Franklin Regional High School,  (6’3"/190 lbs.), helped lead the Stars to a 3-1-0-0 showing at the NAPHL's final regular season league showcase where he recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in four games in Troy.

Virag finished second in scoring for the Stars in NAPHL regular season play, recording 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists), including one power play goal, in 12 league games. Overall, to date, Virag, a Export, PA, resident, has recorded 52 points (19 goals, 33 assists), including 4 power play goals and 2 shorthanded goals in 43 games for the Stars U18 team.

"Olda is a gifted hockey player," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He had a great showing in Troy and certainly demonstrated his offensive prowess."

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

The NAPHL's 18U AAA High Performance Division, in which Esmark participates, is comprised of four regular-season events leading up to its Championship Tournament, the Dixon Cup Playoffs.

The next 16U NAPHL event of the 2018-19 season, and the final event of the season, the Dixon Cup Playoffs, will take place from Feb. 15-17, 2019, in Troy, MI.

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.