Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier I Hockey Federation (THF) have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Jack Ammons has signed a United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) tender agreement with the Railers Junior Hockey Club.
The 18-year-old forward from Raleigh, NC, recorded 8 points (2 goals and 6 assists), in 23 THF regular season games and 4 THF Playoff Games in helping lead the U18 Stars to the League’s 18U AAA Championship game.
Overall, the 5’11” / 175 lbs. forward tallied 29 points (7 goals, 22 assists), including one power play goal, in 68 games played for the Star’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
The 2023-24 season was Ammon’s first season with the AAA Stars program.
“Jack is a solid get for the Railers,” said Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “His skill set will allow him to check many boxes in terms of finding and securing a role and place at the junior level. Jack’s desire to succeed will serve him well as he makes the jump to the next level.”
Ammons becomes the second Star’s player to sign a tender with a NCDC Club for the ’24-’25 season, joining teammate Jackson Furman, who previously signed with the Northern Cyclones.
Overall, Ammons becomes the thirteenth player from the 2023-24 Esmark Stars AAA Program to sign a tender with a Junior A Club for the 2024-25 season. He joins 18U teammates Nathan Burlando (Minnesota Mallards), Jackson Furman (Minnesota Mallards), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Jacob Stock (Watertown Shamrocks), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, and 16U defenseman Talon Del Signore, who signed with the Minnesota Mallards, who all signed tender agreements with North American Hockey League (NAHL) Junior A Clubs for the upcoming season. Additionally, teammate Hudson Howard signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL).
The Railers Junior Hockey Club will join the NCDC’s eight-team New England Division, along with the Boston Junior Rangers (MA), Islanders Hockey Club (MA), Northern Cyclones (NH), Seacoast Spartans (NH), South Shore Kings (MA), Thunder Hockey Club (NH), Utica Jr Comets (NY), and Wilkes Barre Scranton Knights (PA).
The 2024-25 season will be the Railer’s inaugural season in the NCDC. The Railers will play in the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center in Worcester, MA, and will be led by Head Coach Sean Bertoni.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation is proud to announce that 23 alumni of THF clubs received invites and participated in NHL Player Development Camps this off-season.
What are NHL Player Development Camps?
NHL Player Development Camps are annual events organized by NHL teams to help develop and evaluate young talent within their organization and potential prospects. These camps typically take place during the summer and offer an opportunity for players, often recently drafted or signed, to train and improve their skills under the guidance of professional coaches and staff. The camps include on-ice training sessions, off-ice workouts, and educational seminars on nutrition, mental preparation, and other aspects essential for professional athletes.
This off-season, 23 players received invites to 17 different teams’ camps, including three players receiving invites from the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers. Colorado had three THF Club Alumni at their camp, while Nashville and San Jose had two each, and a single player attended camps in Boston, Buffalo, Columbus, Minnesota, Montreal, New York (Rangers), Ottawa, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Vegas, and Winnipeg.
View a complete list of the THF Club Alumni who attended camps below:
| NHL Team | Player Name | Team |
| Boston Bruins | Gleb Veremyev | Rockets Hockey Club |
| Buffalo Sabres | Sean Keohane | South Shore Kings* |
| Colorado Avalanche | Chris Romaine | South Shore Kings* |
| Colorado Avalanche | Mick Frechette | Northern Cyclones* |
| Colorado Avalanche | Reilly Connors | Connecticut Jr. Rangers |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | James Fisher | Boston Junior Bruins |
| Florida Panthers | C.J. Foley | South Shore Kings* |
| Florida Panthers | Liam McLinskey | Jersey Hitmen |
| Florida Panthers | Tyler Muszelik | Rockets Hockey Club |
| Minnesota Wild | Nate Benoit | Northern Cyclones |
| Montreal Canadiens | Ben Merrill | Boston Advantage/South Shore Kings* |
| Nashville Predators | Caeden Herrington | CP Dynamo |
| Nashville Predators | Teddy Stiga | Islanders Hockey Club* |
| New York Rangers | Brett Berard | South Shore Kings* |
| Ottawa Senators | Nicholas Van Tassell | Rockets Hockey Club |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Ryan Remick | Jersey Hitmen/Rockets Hockey Club |
| San Jose Sharks | Collin Graf | Boston Junior Bruins |
| San Jose Sharks | Gregory Japchen | P.A.L. Jr. Islanders |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Cooper Flinton | Northern Cyclones* |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Brendan Fitzgerald | Islanders Hockey Club |
| Vancouver Canucks | Christian Felton | Skipjacks Hockey Club/Boston Junior Bruins* |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Cade Alami | Jersey Hitmen/Connecticut Jr. Rangers |
| Winnipeg Jets | Kyle Penney | Boston Junior Bruins* |
| *-Organizational Alumni |
Three alum of THF Clubs heard their names called in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on June 28th and 29th at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Kamil Bednarik – F – Elk Grove, Ill.
The 61st overall pick in the second round by the New York Islanders spent a season playing for the New Jersey Rockets before heading to the US National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for two seasons. The 2006 born forward put up 65 points in 61 games with the USNTDP’s U18 team this past seasons and will play for Boston College this fall.
Blake Montgomery – F – Annapolis, MD
Montgomery, a fourth round pick by the Ottawa Senators, spent time with Team Maryland, SkipJacks Hockey Club and Seacoast Performance Academy before finding himself in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars. Montgomery put up 43 points in 58 games this season with the Stars.
Fisher Scott – D – Carbondale, CO
Scott, the seventh round pick by the Detroit Red Wings, played for the Colorado Thunderbirds before a two season stint in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The 2004 born defenseman put up 33 points in 61 games with the Saints this season and will spend next season with Colorado College in the NCAA.
The achievements of Kamil Bednarik, Blake Montgomery, and Fisher Scott highlight the exceptional talent and dedication fostered by THF Clubs. Their journeys from youth hockey to the NHL Entry Draft serve as a testament to their hard work and the support they received from their clubs and coaches. As they embark on the next chapters of their careers, their success continues to inspire future generations of players within the THF community.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier I Hockey Federation (THF) have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Jackson Furman has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minnesota Mallards.
The 18-year-old forward from Westerville, OH, recorded 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists), in 23 THF regular season games and 4 THF Playoff Games in helping lead the U18 Stars to the League’s 18U AAA Championship game.
Overall, the 5’11” / 170 lbs. forward tallied 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists), including one power play goal and two game-winning goals, in 68 games played for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
The 2023-24 season was Furman’s second season with the Esmark Stars program.
During the 2022-23 season, Furman recorded 8 points (2 goals and 6 assists), in 12 THF League regular season games and 4 THF Playoff Games, helping lead the Stars to the THF Playoff Championship.
Overall during the ’22-’23 campaign, Furman tallied 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists), including two power play goals, in 62 games played for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
“Jackson is a true Swiss Army knife,” said Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “His skill set and on-ice compete level allowed us to use him in all settings … from special teams (penalty kill and power play) to end-of-game scenarios. He brings a tenacity and desire to succeed to each game and practice that will not allow him to be outworked. The combination of this drive and his skill set is what created this Junior opportunity and positions him for success at the next level.”
In addition to his success on the ice, Furman was also selected as an All-State Lacrosse player in the state of Ohio last season.
Furman is one of 12 players from the 2023-24 Esmark Stars to sign a tender with an NAHL Junior A Club for the upcoming season, as he joins 18U teammates Nathan Burlando (Minnesota Mallards), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Jacob Stock (Watertown Shamrocks), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, and 16U defenseman Talon Del Signore, who also signed with the Minnesota Mallards, in signing tender agreements with NAHL teams. Additionally, Hudson Howard, signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL).
The Mallards will join the NAHL’s eight-team Central Division along with the Aberdeen Wings (SD), Austin Bruins (MN), Bismarck Bobcats (ND), Minot Minotauros (ND), North Iowa Bulls (IA), St. Cloud Norseman (MN) and Watertown Shamrocks (SD).
The 2024-25 season will be the inaugural season in the NAHL for the Mallards, along with their fellow Central Division opponent Watertown Shamrocks. The Mallards will play in the Forest Lake Sports Center in Forest Lake, MN, and are led by Head Coach Terry Watt.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) have announced that Esmark Stars 16U AAA Hockey defenseman Talan Del Signore has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minnesota Wilderness.
“Talan is an extremely gifted player,” said Star’s U16 head coach, Yuri Krivokhija. “His skill set at his age is off the charts.”
The 17-year-old defenseman from Trafford, PA, recorded 11 points (4 goals and 7 assists), in 19 THF regular season appearances.
Overall the 5’8″ / 165 lbs. defenseman tallied 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists), including four power-play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 45 games played for the Star’s U16 AAA Midget Minor squad.
The 2023-24 season was Del Signore’s first season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program.
“Talan has only truly begun to tap into his talent,” Krivokhija added. “It will be fun to see how he progresses.”
Del Signore becomes the 14th member of the 2023-2024 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program to sign a tender or come to an agreement with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.
Del Signore joins 18U teammates Nathan Burlando (Minnesota Mallards), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Jacob Stock (Watertown Shamrocks), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, who all signed tender agreements with NAHL teams; Jackson Furman, who signed a tender agreement with the Northern Cyclones National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL); Hudson Howard, who signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL); and Carmen D’Ambrosio who signed a player agreement with the Florida Eels of the USPHL, in committing to a junior team for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Wilderness play in the NAHL’s eight-team Midwest Division along with the Anchorage Wolverines (AK), Chippewa Steel (WI), Fairbanks Ice Dogs (AK), Janesville Jets (WI), Kenai River Brown Bears (AK), Springfield Jr Blues (IL), and Wisconsin Windego.
The Wilderness play in the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, Minnesota, and are led by Head Coach David Boitz.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Jacob Stock has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Watertown Shamrocks.
“Jacob is one of those players with an instinct to be in the right place at the right time,” said Star’s U18 head coach, Dave Kosick.
“He is a crafty and gifted offensive player who can score goals … in a variety of situations … while also getting under the skin of and creating chaos for an opponent.”
The 18-year-old forward from Clairton, PA, recorded 12 points (7 goals and 5 assists), in 27 THF regular season games and playoff games in helping lead the U18 Stars to the THF League Playoff Championship Game.
Overall, the 5’10” / 150 lbs. forward tallied 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists), including two power-play goals, in 68 games played for the Star’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
The 2023-24 season was Stock’s second season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program.
During the 2022-23 season, Stock recorded 9 points (4 goals and 5 assists), in 14 THF regular season and playoff games for Esmark’s U16 squad.
Overall during the 2022-23 season, Stock tallied 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists), including one (1) power play goal and five (5) shorthanded goal, in 65 games played for Esmark’s U16 AAA Midget Major squad.
“As this will be the Shamrocks inaugural season, Jacob has an opportunity from the beginning to establish a role with them,” Kosick added. “He is the style of player all teams are seeking … an agitator who can put up points.”
Stock becomes the 13th member of the 2023-2024 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program to sign a tender or come to an agreement with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.
Stock joins 18U teammates Nathan Burlando (Minnesota Mallards), Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors) and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, who all signed tender agreements with NAHL teams; Jackson Furman, who signed a tender agreement with the Northern Cyclones National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL); Hudson Howard, who signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL); and Carmen D’Ambrosio who signed a player agreement with the Florida Eels of the USPHL, in committing to a junior team for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Shamrocks will join the NAHL’s eight-team Central Division along with the Aberdeen Wings (SD), Austin Bruins (MN), Bismarck Bobcats (ND), Minnesota Mallards, Minot Minotauros (ND), North Iowa Bulls (IA), St. Cloud Norseman (MN) and Watertown Shamrocks (SD).
The 2024-25 season will be the inaugural season in the NAHL for the Shamrocks, along with their fellow Central Division opponent Minnesota Mallards.
The Mallards will play in the new Prairie Lakes Ice Arena in Watertown, South Dakota, and are led by Head Coach Casey Kirley.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Nathan Burlando has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minnesota Mallards.
“Nathan is a great addition for the Mallards,” said Star’s U18 head coach, Dave Kosick.
“He is a gifted player who can fill several roles. An outstanding face-off man who wins a majority of his face-offs; a gifted offensive player who is creative with the puck and scores goals; and an outstanding penalty killer, from face-off to reading an opponent’s power play and understanding how to disrupt it.”
The 18-year-old forward from Canonsburg, PA, recorded 22 points (10 goals and 12 assists), in 25 Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) regular season games and playoff games, in helping lead the U18 Stars to the THF Playoff Championship game.
Overall the 5’10” / 170 lbs. forward tallied 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists), including one power-play goal, in 65 games played for the Star’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
The 2023-24 season was Burlando’s fourth season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program.
During the 2022-23 season, Burlando recorded 6 points (1 goal and 5 assists), in 11 THF regular season and playoff games for Esmark’s U18 squad and helped lead them to the THF’s inaugural season Playoff Championship.
Overall during the 2022-23 season, Burlando tallied 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists), including five power-play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 49 games played for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
During the 2021-22 season, Burlando tallied 53 points (25 goals, 28 assists), including one power-play goal and two shorthanded goals, in 67 games played for Esmark’s U16 AAA Midget Minor squad.
And during the 2020-21 season, Burlando tallied 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists), including five power-play goals and two shorthanded goals, in 65 games played for Esmark’s U15 AAA Midget Minor squad.
“Joining a new franchise in the NAHL should afford Nathan a great opportunity to establish himself from the start,” Kosick added.
Burlando becomes the 12th member of the 2023-2024 Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program to sign a tender or come to an agreement with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.
Burlando joins 18U teammates Mark Trischler (Kenai River Brown Bears), Aiden Petroff (New Hampshire Mountain Kings), Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors) and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), as well as 16U Esmark forwards Emmet McClaine and Vitaliy Ulianov, who both signed with the Johnstown Tomahawks, who all signed tender agreements with NAHL teams; Hunter Furman, who signed a tender agreement with the Northern Cyclones National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL); Hudson Howard, who signed a tender agreement with the New Jersey 87s in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EHL); and Carmen D’Ambrosio who signed a player agreement with the Florida Eels of the USPHL, in committing to a junior team for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Mallards will join the NAHL’s eight-team Central Division along with the Aberdeen Wings (SD), Austin Bruins (MN), Bismarck Bobcats (ND), Minot Minotauros (ND), North Iowa Bulls (IA), St. Cloud Norseman (MN) and Watertown Shamrocks (SD).
The 2024-25 season will be the inaugural season in the NAHL for the Mallards, along with their fellow Central Division opponent Watertown Shamrocks. The Mallards will play in the Forest Lake Sports Center in Forest Lake, MN, and are led by Head Coach Terry Watt.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) continues to demonstrate its prowess in developing top-tier hockey talent, as evidenced by the impressive representation in the 2024 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft. Held on Wednesday, June 12th, the draft saw a total of 40 THF players and alumni being selected, highlighting the federation’s role as a key contributor to the junior hockey pipeline.
The breakdown of the 40 drafted players is as follows: 8 current THF member players, 4 current THF guest players, 16 THF member alumni, and 12 THF guest alumni. These players hail from 23 different THF teams, underscoring the widespread talent across the federation.
NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld emphasized the significance of the draft in shaping the league’s teams for the upcoming season. “The NAHL Draft is a very important part of the process in building a team for the upcoming season,” said Frankenfeld. “A drafted player has been scouted by the team’s coaching or scouting staff. Whether it is skill, strength, speed, compete, character or all of the above, that coach wants that individual on their team. Congratulations to all the players chosen in the NAHL Draft and good luck to every player working hard to play NAHL Hockey in their pursuit of playing NCAA hockey someday.”
The THF congratulates all the drafted players and extends its best wishes as they embark on the next phase of their hockey careers. The federation remains committed to nurturing the next generation of hockey stars and looks forward to seeing more of its players succeed in the NAHL and beyond.
| 3 | 72 | Elmira Aviators | Jack Broderick | 5.09 | 160 | 2007-11-10 | LW | Rye, NY | Westchester Express 16U | THF Member |
| 3 | 95 | Austin Bruins | Gus Elbert | 6 | 175 | 2006-11-12 | LD | West Fargo, ND | Sioux Falls POWER 18U | Guest Team |
| 4 | 123 | Minnesota Wilderness | Frantisek Netusil | 5.1 | 180 | 2007-05-14 | C | Prague, Cze | Rockets Hockey Club 16U | THF Member |
| 4 | 125 | Danbury Jr. Hattricks | Michael Sciabarra | 5.11 | 185 | 2006-02-14 | LD | Katonah, NY | Westchester Express 18U | THF Member |
| 5 | 150 | Lone Star Brahmas | Adam Brown | 5.11 | 170 | 2005-01-01 | RD | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln Stars 18U | THF Member |
| 5 | 163 | New Mexico Ice Wolves | Anders Miller | 6.02 | 184 | 2006-10-04 | G | Mound, MN | Sioux Falls POWER 18U | Guest Team |
| 6 | 176 | Watertown Shamrocks | Cooper Jacobson | 5.08 | 175 | 2006-07-31 | C | Chapel Hill, NC | Sioux Falls POWER 18U | Guest Team |
| 8 | 261 | St. Cloud Norsmen | Martins Klaucans | 6 | 179 | 2008-07-08 | RW | Riga, Lat | Rockets Hockey Club 16U | THF Member |
| 10 | 321 | Danbury Jr. Hattricks | Paul Triggiani | 5.08 | 135 | 2008-07-26 | RD | Bedford, NY | Westchester Express 15’s | THF Member |
| 10 | 335 | Oklahoma Warriors | Josh Petrini | 5.11 | 165 | 2006-11-23 | C | Toronto, ON | St. Francis Red Raiders Prep/18U | THF Member |
| 13 | 437 | Minnesota Wilderness | Brenden Espenell | 6.02 | 173 | 2007-07-18 | RD | Winnipeg, MB | Sioux Falls POWER 16U | Guest Team |
| 16 | 545 | Oklahoma Warriors | Tyler Webb | 5.11 | 150 | 2006-05-02 | RD | Lodi, CA | Team Illinois 18U | THF Member |
| Alumni | |||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| THF Member Organizations | THF Guest Organizations | ||
| Luke Santilli | Islanders HC | Aidan Stubbings | Lake Forest Academy |
| Mike Malatino | NY Dynamo | Sam Esposito | SF Power |
| Kyle Ozgun | Hitmen/Flyers Elite | Jaxon Grosdidier | SF Power |
| Stephen Chen | Mercer | Price Grimes | SF Power |
| Owen Boucher | Biggby | Jackson Rudh | Loons |
| Henry Wilson | Islanders HC | Ocean Fancy | Boston Advantage |
| Luc Lampert | Westchester express | Dominic Thomas | MN Voyageurs |
| Caden Olenczak | Skipjacks | Tristen May Robinson | MN Green Giants |
| Ethan Ramonetti | PAL | Zane Irion | CO Spring tigers |
| Anthony Cardilli | Team Illinois | Jacob Guille | MN Moose |
| Jackson Delleo | Junior Bruins | Ryan Solari | Boston Advantage |
| Niko Tournas | Rockets | Andrew Bastian | MN Lakers |
| AJ Bongiorno | Islanders HC | ||
| Andrew Piccirillo | Rockets | ||
| Jameson O’Flynn | Tri state spartans | ||
| Ty Levy | Rockets | ||
For more information on the NAHL Draft and the full list of drafted players, please visit the official NAHL website.
About the North American Hockey League
Celebrating its 49th season in 2023-24, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 17 states from across North America.
The NAHL is part of the USA Hockey National Junior Development Model, which includes the USHL and the US National Team Development Program. The NAHL works closely with NCAA College Hockey, the NHL, the USHL, and USA Hockey’s National Development Program in order best serve as an imperative piece in the development system for collegiate and professional hockey.
During the 2022-23 season, the NAHL had over 380 NCAA commitmented players with over 75% of those being NCAA Division I commitments. Additionally, 38% of all NCAA Division I freshmen played hockey in the NAHL. Over the course of the last seven seasons, 1,850+ NAHL players have made NCAA commitments and 36 have been drafted into the NHL.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is excited to announce that Flyers Elite forward Colin Myers has committed to play College Hockey Federation Division 2 hockey at Penn State University – Harrisburg. Myers, a talented forward hailing from Philadelphia, PA, has demonstrated his prowess on the ice through his contributions to both the Flyers Elite program and Father Judge High School this season.
During his tenure with Flyers Elite, Myers played in 36 games, showcasing his skills and dedication with 4 goals and 5 assists, totaling 9 points. His performance at Father Judge High School was equally impressive, where he appeared in 15 games, netting 3 goals and 9 assists for a total of 14 points.
Myers’ commitment to Penn State Harrisburg is a significant step in his hockey career. The Nittany Lions are the reigning National division champions in the Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference, and Myers is set to join their ranks this fall.
As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club has announced that their Tier I program has rebranded as Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey, effective immediately, for the 2024-2025 season.
The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey program, the oldest Tier I AAA program in the Mid-American District (founded in 1984 and continuously providing elite training and showcase opportunities for amateur hockey players since) and one of the oldest Tier I AAA programs under the USA Hockey umbrella, will be celebrating their 40th season during the 2024-2025 campaign.
General Manager Dave Kosick announced the rebranding and name change. “We are excited for the next chapter of Stars Hockey,” Kosick said. “In celebration of our 40th season of providing elite level training and instruction, we have traveled back to our roots and reintroduced our original name … Pittsburgh Stars,” Kosick continued.
As part of the rebranding the Stars have unveiled a new logo, will don new uniforms, and will update and revise all branding efforts, including their website, to the new Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey brand.
The Stars Program, which plays out of the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA, is a nationally recognized program, offering elite-level coaching.
Former Stars players have gone on to play hockey at every level, including the NHL, OHL, AHL, IHL, USHL, NAHL, NCDC, NCAA Div. I & III, and ACHA, Div. I & III.
For the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Stars will be fielding seven Tier I AAA teams, including 18U Midget Major (2006-2007 birth-years), 16U Midget Minor (2008), 15U Only Midget (2009), 14U Bantam Major (2010), 13U Bantam Minor Red (2011), 13U Bantam Minor White (2011), and 12U Pee Wee Major (2012).
“We have enjoyed our relationship with Esmark and thank them for their support and recognition
of our efforts for the past decade,” Kosick offered. “The new branding effort will allow our program to better identify with our home city, Pittsburgh, and celebrate our history and ties to the area.”
The Stars are proud members of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF).
