Recent U18 AAA Esmark Stars News
ESMARK STARS 18U FORWARD SIGNS NAHL JUNIOR A TENDER
Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Brody Simko has signed a NAHL (North American Hockey League) tender agreement with the NAHL's New Mexico Ice Wolves.
The 2022-23 season was Simko's second season with the Esmark's AAA Hockey program, as he skated for Esmark's 16U AAA team during the 2021-22 season.
The (6'0", 195 lbs.) 17 year-old from Butler, PA, registered 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists), in 32 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances (28 regular season and four Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games), including one power play goal, during the 2021-22 season for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad
Overall this past season, Simko tallied 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists), including three power play goals, in 61 games played for Esmark.
During the 2020-21 season, Simko registered 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists), including one game-winning goal and three power-play goals, in 25 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances (20 regular season and five Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games) for Esmark's U16 AAA squad.
Overall during the 2020-21 season, Simko tallied 49 points (27 goals, 22 assists), including nine power-play goals, in 57 games played for Esmark.
He was also selected to participate in the 2021 U16 NAPHL AAA All-Stars game where he scored a goal for Team Demko.
"Brody has a great nose for the goal," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "When he has the puck in the offensive zone, he is a true threat to score."
"As his overall game continues to develop," Kosick added, "he has the size and strength to be an extremely productive, successful and elite power forward."
Simko becomes the tenth member of the 2021-2022 Esmark 18U AAA team to sign a tender with a Junior A club. He joins Shane Kozlina, forward, North Iowa Bulls (NAHL); Hunter Fairman,, forward, Springfield Jr Blues (NAHL); Justin Metrick, forward, Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL); and defenseman Liam Varmecky, Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) in signing NAHL tenders. Additionally, teammates Ethan Zupanc, forward, and Logan Dittenhafer, defenseman, Wilkes Barre Jr Knights (NCDC); Ray Janik, defenseman, Islanders Hockey Club (NCDC); Keith Smilowitz, forward, and Liam McClaine, defenseman, Boston Jr. Advantage (NCDC); who all signed with NCDC teams.
The Ice Wolves, who play in the NAHL's South Division, captured the 2021-22 South Division Regular Season crown this past season. They went on to win the South's automatic spot in the league's Robertson Cup Championship where they made it to the league's semi-finals.
Kozlina and Varmecky Honored
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced its All-NAPHL T1ER 18U Teams for the Central, East, and West Divisions for the 2021-22 season.
Consideration and selection were based on player performance in all NAPHL regular season and playoff games throughout the 2021-22 season.
The 18U Esmark Stars AAA Hockey team had two players, forward Shane Kozlina and defenseman Liam Varmecky, named to the All-NAPHL Tier I 18U-Central Team for the 2021-22 season.
In 28 regular season 2021-22 NAPHL appearances, Kozlina, a first-year member of the U18 Esmark Stars who is from Cranberry Township, PA, recorded 39 points (21 goals, 18 assists) including three power-play goals, three shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals. He added one goal in four Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games. Additionally, he added a pair of assists in the NAPHL All-Star game.
Overall, Kozlina, a Senior at Seneca Valley High School who was tendered by the North Iowa Bulls of the NAHL, recorded 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists), including four power-play goals and four shorthanded goals, in 60 games played.
"Shane's high energy style of play made him a must-watch player," said Stars 18U Head Coach Dave Kosick. "He captured the attention of scouts and junior coaches and announced himself as one of the best players in the NAPHL."
Varmecky, a returning player to the Stars who is from Gibsonia, PA, recorded 24 points (21 goals, 18 assists) including two power-play goals and one game-winning goals in 28 regular season NAPHL games played. He added two assists in four Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games. Additionally, he was selected to and played in the NAPHL All-Star game. Varmeck was tendered by the Danbury Jr Hat Tricks of the NAHL and appeared in 13 NAHL games after completing the 2021-22 season. He also appeared in one regular season game for the Johnstown Tomahawks.
Overall, Varmecky, a graduate of Pine Richland High School, recorded 51 points (11 goals, 40 assists) including four power-play goals and a +/- rating of a team leading +49, in 61 games played
"Liam certainly puts up points and is a gifted player" Kosick said. "But his cerebral style of playing defense ... matched with his size, skill, reach, vision and grit ... make him an elite level player."
ESMARK STARS 18U DEFENSEMAN SIGNS NCDC JUNIOR A TENDER
Pittsburgh, PA - The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Logan Dittenhafer has signed a NCDC (National Collegiate Development Conference) tender agreement with the USPHL's Wilkes Barre Jr. Knights.
The 2022-23 season was Dittenhafer's initial with Esmark's AAA Hockey's 18U team.
The (6'5", 220 lbs.) 19 year-old from Pequea, PA, registered 10 points (10 assists), in 32 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances (24 regular season and four Dixon Cup NAPHL Playoff games) during the 2021-22 season.
Overall this past season, Dittenhafer tallied 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists), including 2 power play goals, in 61 games played for Esmark.
"Logan has the gift of size and reach," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick, "and that enticed a lot of interest from Junior teams."
"Add an extremely hard shot and great game sense approach to that frame," Kosick added "and it is very easy to draw a comparison to an 18 year-old Zdeno Chara"
Dittenhafer becomes the ninth member of the 2021-2022 Esmark 18U AAA team to sign a tender with a Junior A club. He joins teammate Ethan Zupanc, forward, in signing with Wilkes Barre (NCDC); Ray Janik, defenseman, Islanders Hockey Club (NCDC); Keith Smilowitz, forward, and Liam McClaine, defenseman, who both signed with the Boston Jr. Advantage (NCDC); as well as forwards Shane Kozlina, North Iowa Bulls (NAHL); Hunter Fairman, Springfield Jr Blues (NAHL); and Justin McClain, Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL); and defenseman Liam Varmecky, Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL).
The Knights, who return to Junior A hockey in the USPHL's "Tuition Free" NCDC Conference after a couple year hiatus from elite Junior A hockey, will be based out of Pittston, PA, and play in the eight-team NCDC South Division.
Zupanc Signs with Wilkes Barre Jr Knights
- By DLG 04/26/2022, 10:00pm EDT
Janik Signs with Islanders Hockey Club Jr A
- By DLG 04/12/2022, 3:00pm EDT
Smilowitz Signs with Boston Jr Advantage
- By DLG 04/09/2022, 12:45pm EDT
McClaine Signs with Boston Jr Advantage
- By DLG 03/29/2022, 6:00pm EDT
Varmecky Signs with Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
- By DLG 03/06/2022, 9:30pm EST