The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier I Hockey Federation (TIHF) are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Ethan Bombalski has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Kenai River Brown Bears Junior A club.
The 2024-25 season is Bombalski’s second season with the Star’s program and second with the Star’s U18 Midget Major squad.
The (5’10” / 180 lbs.) 18-year-old from Apollo, PA, registered 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists), including three power play goals, in 26 T1HF regular season and playoff appearances. Overall for the 2024-2025 campaign, Bombalski, a Kiski Area High School senior, tallied 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists), including five power play goals, in 68 games played for the Stars.
During the 2023-24 season, Bombalski, registered 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists), in 24 T1HF regular season and playoff appearances and overall tallied 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists), including one power play goal, in 58 games played for the Stars 18U squad.
“Ethan is a great pick-up for Kenai River,” said Pittsburgh Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “He is without a doubt among the best players, and certainly one of the top defensemen, in the NAPHL T1ER League and will bring a very high-level two-way game to the Alaska and the Brown Bears.”
Bombalski was originally tendered in the NAHL by the Colorado Grit who placed their franchise into an “inactive status” for the upcoming 2025-26 season, thus releasing Bombalski from his original tender.
The Brown Bears, who skate in the NAHL’s nine-team Midwest Division, along with the Anchorage Wolverines (AK), Chippewa Steel (WI), Fairbanks Ice Dogs (AK), Janesville Jets (WI), Minnesota Wilderness, Springfield Jr. Blues (IL), and Wisconsin Windigos, play in the Soldotna Sports Center in Kenai River, AK.