McKinney, TX - The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced All-NAPHL T1ER 15U 1st and 2nd Teams for the 2022-23 season.

Consideration and selection were based on player performance in all NAPHL regular season and playoff games throughout the 2022-23 season.

The 15U Esmark Stars AAA Hockey team had one player, forward Emmet McClaine, named to the All-T1ER 15U 1st Team and two players, forward Marshall Hewitt, and goaltender Tyler Hayley, named to the All-T1ER 15U 2nd Team for the 2022-23 season.

Additionally, head coach Chris "Sluggo" Stern, was named NAPHL T1ER 15U Coach of the Year.

In eight regular season 2022-23 NAPHL appearances, McClaine, who is from Chicora, PA, recorded 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) for the Stars U15 Midget squad. In five T1ER Dixon Cup playoff games, he recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and helped lead the Stars to the Championship of the NAPHL's T1ER Dixon Cup Playoffs.

Overall, McClaine, a Sophomore at Butler Area High School, recorded 60 points (40 goals, 20 assists), in 60 games played.

"Emmet's skills speak for themselves," said Stars 15U Head Coach Chris Stern. "His future is certainly bright with opportunity."

In eight regular season 2022-23 NAPHL games played, Hewitt, who lives in Cranberry Township, PA, recorded 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) for the Stars U15 Midget squad. In five T1ER Dixon Cup playoff games, he recorded six points (5 goals, 1 assist) and helped lead the Stars to the Championship of the NAPHL's T1ER Dixon Cup Playoffs.

Overall, Hewitt, a sophomore at Seneca Valley High School, recorded 51 points (30 goals, 21 assists) in 60 games played.

"Marshall brings a high octane offense skill set" Stern offered. "He is a crafty forward with a nose to find and make offense happen."

Hayley, who is from Springfield, OH, recorded a 4-0-0-0 record in four NAPHL T1ER Regular Season games, with a save percentage of .947, a goals against average (GAA) of 1.36 and recorded one shutout. In the Dixon Cup T1ER Playoffs, Hayley was again perfect, recording a 3-0-0-0 record, with a save percentage of .948, a goals against average (GAA) of 1.33, and one shutout, backstopping the Stars in the Championship game and the Dixon Cup T1ER Title.

During the regular season, Hayley recorded a 19-5-0-0 record in 26 games played, with a GAA of 2.20.

"Tyler ... and our goaltending tandem ... understood and lived up to our expectations," said Coach Stern. "We ask them both to keep the puck out of the net and give us a chance to win the game. And Tyler held up his end of that challenge."

Stern, who joined the Stars coaching staff for the 2022-23 season, successfully guided the U15 Stars to the T1ER Playoff Championships during his inaugural season.

"Chris has a lengthy and successful track record," Stars General manager Dave Kosick said. "And he brought that acumen to our 15U squad and guided them to a very successful season in his first year with us."

Tampa, FL - The Esmark Stars AAA U15 (only) Midget squad captured the inaugural championship of the Elite Prospects Cup Series in Tampa, FL, this past weekend.

The Stars skated to a 3-1-0-0 record in round-robin play to earn a spot in the event's semi-finals, where they would upended the Syracuse Nationals, 6-1, who had beaten the Stars in an earlier round-robin game, to advance to the Series Championship game.

In the EPCS Championship Game, the Stars emerged with a 4-1 win over the Westchester Express, in another repeat game from round-robin play, to claim the first ever EPCS Championship in the U15(O) Division.

The Stars opened play with a 4-3 overtime win over the Express on Thursday, Jan 26 at the Ellenton Ice Complex in Ellenton, FL. Ethan Buranovsky, Tripp Goehring and Aiden Moskovitz all scored in regulation, including a pair of late third period goals to force overtime, where Marshall Hewitt would collect the overtime game winner. Tyler Hayley was the winning goaltender.

Later Thursday evening, the Stars returned to the ice and skated to a 5-4 overtime win over the Mercer Chiefs at the AdventHealth Ice Center in Wesley Chapel, FL. Nino DiPietro, Ian Morganti, Marshall Hewitt and Liam Mahoney all scored goals in regulation, including a pair of third period goals to force overtime, where Emmet McClaine scored the game winning goal. Kyle McLaughlin was the winning goaltender.

The Stars grabbed their third win of round-robin with a 3-2 win over Boston-based American Hockey Academy at the Ellenton Ice Complex on Friday. Emmet McClaine (2G) and Marshall Hewitt scored the Stars goals. Kyle McLaughlin was the winning goaltender.

Esmark would drop their final round-robin game, to Syracuse, 4-3, on Saturday back at the Ellenton Ice Complex, but would advance to the event's playoff semi-finals back. Joey Vecchio, Liam Mahoney and Vitalii Ulianov scored for the Stars.

In their semi-final rematch with Syracuse, at the AdventHealth Ice Center on Sunday morning, the Stars skated to a 6-1 win, and earned a spot in the event's championship game. Vitalii Ulianov (2G), Ethan Buranovsky, Marshall Hewitt, Vladyslav Bomaziuk and Nino DiPietro all scored for the Stars. Kyle McLaughlin was the winning goaltender.

In the championship game, the Stars skated to a 4-1 win over the Express. Luke Mink, Nino DiPietro, Cameron Stern and Emmet McClaine all scored goals. Tyler Haley was the winning goaltender.

Esmark's U16 squad also advanced to the EPCS Championship game with a perfect 5-0-0-0 record, but dropped a 4-2 decision to the Philadelphia Jr Flyers in the championship game of the U16 Division.

The 18U Esmark squad advanced to the event's semi-finals with a 3-0-1-0 record, but would drop a 3-0 decision to the Philadelphia Jr Flyers in the semi-finals.