Pittsburgh, PA – Esmark Stars AAA Hockey U18 forwards Alex Thomas and Timur Naletov were both called up to North American Hockey League (NAHL) Junior A Clubs for action this past weekend.

Thomas was called up to the Colorado Grit, who had previously tendered him for the 2024-25 season, and saw action in games against the New Mexico Ice Wolves.

Thomas, who hails from North Huntington, PA, has registered 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists), in 23 Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) appearances so far this season (through Jan 21), including four power-play goals for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

Overall, this season to date, Thomas has tallied 54 points (28 goals, 26 assists), including nine power play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 48 games played for Esmark (through Jan. 21).

Naletov was called up by the Danbury Hat Tricks, who had previously tendered him for the 2024-25 season, for games against the Northeast Generals. He recorded an assist in two appearances.

Naletov, who hails from St. Petersburg, Russia, has recorded 13 points (3 goals and 10 assists) in 23 T1HF games to date, including one power play goal, for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

The (6’1″ / 185 lbs.) forward has tallied 37 points (6 goals, 21 assists), including one power play goal, in 50 games played for Esmark’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad (through Jan. 21).

“It is a great opportunity for both of these guys,” said Stars head coach Dave Kosick. “It allowed them to get a taste of Junior A Hockey, spend some time with their respective clubs and coaching staffs, and get acclimated to the Junior experience.”

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 Central Conference Championships held last weekend in Chicago provided teams with a thrilling showcase of talent and competition. Congratulations to the deserving champions in each age category:

12U: Indiana Elite
14U: Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
16U: Team Illinois
18U: Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

As THF celebrates their victories, we also recognize the outstanding individual performances that stood out during the championships. The All Tournament Teams for each age group highlight the top players from the weekend

12U All Tournament Team:

Goaltender:

• Braxton Lewis (Indiana Elite)

Defense:

• Jack Huntzicker (Biggby Coffee AAA)
• Levi Freeman (Team Illinois)

Forwards:

• Zeke Clark (Biggby Coffee AAA)
• Cash Becker (Indiana Elite)
• Asher Whitt (Indiana Elite)

14U All Tournament Team:

Goaltender:

• Phillip Chappell (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)

Defense:

• Theodore Novakovich (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)
• Cameron Alvarado (Biggby Coffee AAA)

Forwards:

• Harrison Botke (Biggby Coffee AAA)
• Jacob Smith (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)
• Conner Phelps (Tri-State Spartans)

16U All Tournament Team:

Goaltender:

• Dane Chock (Team Illinois)

Defense:

• Parker Cha (Team Illinois)
• Carson Croteau (Lincoln Stars)

Forwards:

• John Carney (Team Illinois)
• Britton Bethard (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)
• Brody Merrick (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)

18U All Tournament Team:

Goaltender:

• Elliott Hartwick (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)

Defense:

• Hunter Merrick (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)
• Nathaniel Hart (Biggby Coffee AAA)

Forwards:

• Riley Fast (Biggby Coffee AAA)
• Carson Forkner (Rocky Mountain RoughRiders)
• Lincoln Emmerson (Team Illinois)

Congratulations to all the teams and players who participated in this memorable event!

Pittsburgh, PA – The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (T1HF) have announced that Esmark Stars 16U AAA Hockey forward Vitaliy Ulianov has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Johnstown Tomahawks.

The 17-year-old forward from Yavoriv, Ukraine, has recorded 15 points (7 goals and 8 assists), including three power play goals and one shorthanded goal in 19 T1HF games to date (Jan 20, 2024).

Overall the 5’11” / 175 lbs. forward has tallied 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists), including seven power play and one shorthanded goal, in 44 games played for Esmark’s U16 AAA Midget Minor squad (through Jan. 20).

The 2023-24 season is Ulianov’s third season overall with the Esmark Stars program.

During the 2022-23 season, Ulianov tallied 37 points (23 goals, 14 assists), including five power play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 40 T1HF games played for the 15U Stars squad.

Overall the 2022-23 season, Ulianov tallied 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists), including four power play goals and six shorthanded goals, in 55 games played for the 15U Stars squad, helping lead Esmark to the U15 AAA Midget Minor T1ER Dixon Cup Championship.

During the 2021-22 season, Ulianov tallied 75 points (45 goals, 30 assists), including eight power-play and one short-handed goals, in 56 games played for the 14U Bantam Major Esmark squad.

“Vitaliy is an extremely gifted forward who mixes a combination of Eastern European skill with the North American style,” said Esmark 16U head coach Yuri Krivokhija. “Similar to McClaine, Vitaliy’s continued development will provide Johnstown with a high-ended talented forward with the promise of being a solid offensive threat.”

Ulianov becomes the second member of the 2023-24 Esmark Stars U16 Midget Minor team and the sixth overall 2023-2024 Esmark Stars player to sign a tender with a Junior A club for the upcoming season.

Ulianov joins 16U teammate Emmet McClaine in signing a tender with the Tomahawks and joins U18 Esmark Stars Alex Thomas (Colorado Grit), Max Rutkowski (Oklahoma Warriors), Timur Naletov (Danbury Hat Tricks) and Mykyta Yalovyi (Lone Star Brahmas), who had all previously signed tender agreements with the NAHL teams.

Johnstown, who is in the NAHL’s nine-team East Division along with the Danbury Hat Tricks (CT), Maine Nordiques, Maryland Black Bears, New Hampshire Mountain Kings, New Jersey Titans, Northeast (MA) Generals, Philadelphia (PA) Rebels and Rochester (NY) Jr Americans, play in the Johnstown War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA, and are led by Head Coach Michael Letizia.

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.

Here are your Tier 1 Hockey Federation Players of the Week and Peak Performer ending January 28th, 2024. This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

9U Division: Nominating Coach: Scott Usmail

• Team: Utica Jr Comets
• Player’s Name: Dominic Summa
• Jersey Number: 2
• Position: Defense
• Dominic had a great weekend in two games he added 2 goals with three assists. Dominic made the transition to defense this year adding that offensive ability on the blue as well as being a force defensively game in and game out.

10U Division: Nominating Coach: Magnus Elgstam

• Team: New Jersey Jets
• Player’s Name: Vincent Velvano
• Jersey Number: 25
• Position: Forward
• “Vincent Have been one off the teams strongest players the hole season. By putting up goals in almost every game. Close to 3 points in average. And 3 goals in the Sundays game. He is a fast skater for his age and see the game well. Not afraid to go in to the corner or crouch the net. Winning or losing doesn’t matter for this kid he just loves to play.”

11U Division: Nominating Coach: Bryan Hluska

• Team: Utica Jr Comets
• Player’s Name: Dominick Demperio
• Jersey Number: 50
• Position: Goalie
• Dominick played very solid in net all 4 games this weekend. Taking just over 100 shots and only allowing 6 goals.

14U Division: Nominating Coach: Greg Vanover

• Team: Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
• Player’s Name: Jacob Smith
• Jersey Number: 70
• Position: Forward
• Jacob had 7 goals and 3 assists in 4 games helping lead his Roughriders 14u team to THF Central Division Champions.

15U Division: Nominating Coach: Jonathan Johnson

• Team: American Hockey Academy
• Player’s Name: Preston Vayonis
• Jersey Number: 4
• Position: Defense
• Preston had a breakout weekend with 3 goals in two THF wins over CJR.

16U Division: Nominating Coach: Sean Freeman

• Team: Team Illinois
• Player’s Name: Parker Cha
• Jersey Number: 13
• Position: Defense
• Played 20 minutes a game, physical presence who helped set the tone for the team to win the Central Playoffs.

18U Division: Nominating Coach: Skylar Miller

• Team: Biggby Coffee AAA
• Player’s Name: Riley Fast
• Jersey Number: 47
• Position: Forward
• Though we came up short in the THF Central Championship game, Riley Fast was scoring at a high rate all weekend. Every time he let off a shot this weekend it felt like it was going to be a goal. Very proud of what Riley produced on the ice this weekend.

Honorable Mentions
All players nominated by a coach receive an Honorable Mention

Luca Patsey	Red Bank Generals	10U	79	Goalie
Adam Davino	Mercer Chiefs	10U	29	Goalie
Lucas Timparas	Mercer Chiefs	11U	87	Forward
Deaglan Dodge	Utica Jr Comets	11U	34	Forward
Connor Phelps	Tri-State Spartans	14U	24	Forward
David Furman	Wolfpack Hockey	15U	31	Goalie
Sam Gold	Biggby Coffee AAA	16U	37	Center
Lucas Marshall	American Hockey Academy	16U	26	Forward
Robert Bird	Colorado Springs Tigers	18U	21	Forward
Collin McCloud	Tri-State Spartans	18U	1	Goalie
Gavin Scott	Skipjacks Hockey Academy	18U	15	Forward
Dylan Newton	San Jose Jr. Sharks	18U	31	Goalie
Logan Tomasello	American Hockey Acadmey	18U	17	Wing

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation is set to elevate the 2024-25 season with an exciting lineup of showcases, offering its member teams an enhanced playing experience. With a schedule structured around full and partial seasons of home and away games, the THF aims to facilitate increased game participation within the league.

In collaboration with Exposure Series, THF will operate most of these events to provide a platform for teams to showcase their skills and foster competition.

Check out the THF showcase schedule:

• August 23-25 | York, PA Showcase (15U-18U)
• September 13-15 | Minnesota Showcase (13U-18U)
• September 20-22 | Pittsburgh Showcase (15U-18U)
• October 11-14 | Michigan Showcase (9U-14U)
• November 15-17 | Connecticut Showcase (9U-12U)
• November 22-24 | Pittsburgh Showcase (13U-14U)
• December 13-15 | Philadelphia Showcase (15U-18U)
• December 13-15 | Hershey Showcase (9U-12U)
• December 20-22 | New Jersey Showcase (13U-14U)
• January 17-20 | Detroit Showcase (15U-18U)
• January 17-20 | Pittsburgh Showcase (9U-12U)
• January 31-February 2 | Chicago Showcase (13U-14U)

These showcases promise a dynamic and competitive environment for Tier 1 Hockey Federation teams, setting the stage for an unforgettable season of hockey. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the best talent on display at these premier events!

For the week ending on January 28th, 2024 the Tier 1 Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the THF KRACH page here.

The teams that are in first in each division are Wolfpack (9U), Wolfpack (10U), CT Jr Rangers (11U), Wolfpack (12U), Rockets (13U), Rockets (14U), Rockets (15U), Rockets (16U), and Rockets (18U).

Join us for the THF Game of the Week, an exhilarating live-streamed hockey match every weekend on the Federations Hockey YouTube Channel. Throughout the season, family, friends, coaches, and scouts can tune in to catch the action-packed U18 THF matchups via the THF Mobile App or Website.

This week’s featured game showcases the American Hockey Academy vs. Revolution U18 Premier. Be sure not to miss this exciting showdown, scheduled for Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at Revolution Ice Gardens.

In case you missed the last thrilling matchup on Saturday, January 27th, where the PHA Icemen took on Tomorrow’s Ice Selects, you can still catch the highlights and the full game replay right here.

The THF has partnered with Play-by-Play Productions of Princeton, NJ to produce the HD telecasts. Play-by-Play is an industry leader in Live-Streaming elite youth and amateur sporting events, serving dozens of clients from throughout the U.S. and overseas.

This weekend, the Tier 1 hockey federations are bringing the Central Conference Championships to Seven Bridges Ice Arena and Center Ice of DuPage in Chicago from January 26th to 28th. The tournament kicks off with a faceoff between 16U Team Illinois and the Tri State Spartans at 7 am tomorrow at Seven Bridges Ice Arena. You can follow along for schedules, scores, and stats here.

Official merchandise will be available onsite on both Saturday and Sunday at Seven Bridges Ice Arena and Center Ice of DuPage or online. Stay tuned to social media for live updates and share your excitement by tagging the THF in your posts.

As the tournament unfolds at Seven Bridges Ice Arena and Center Ice of DuPage, the question remains: which team will be called Champions and claim the Championship Banners?

Here are your Tier 1 Hockey Federation Players of the Week and Peak Performer ending January 21st, 2024. This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

9U Division: Nominating Coach: Roy Scott

• Team: Woodbridge Wolfpack
• Player’s Name: Logan Oliver
• Jersey Number: 24
• Position: Forward
• Logan has been putting the hard work in at practices, and it’s definitely showing this past weekend. Scoring 2 goal with 3 beautiful helpers setting up his teammates. Great job Logan.

10U Division: Nominating Coach: Brian Florek

• Team: Palmyra Blacks Nights
• Player’s Name: Victor Caufman
• Jersey Number: 16
• Position: Forward
• Victor has proven to be very versatile playing both defense and forward this season. He is a great locker room guy and willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. He had 2 great goals and an assist in our games this weekend. Great job Vic!

12U Division: Nominating Coach: Ryan Williams

• Team: Woodbridge Wolfpack
• Player’s Name: Parker Chan
• Jersey Number: 91
• Position: Forward
• Respected, self-disciplined, and team-oriented. Great teammate excellent game sense.

13U Division: Nominating Coach: Donny Kane

• Team: Woodbridge Wolfpack
• Player’s Name: Luke Williams
• Jersey Number: 98
• Position: Forward
• Luke was dynamic offensively and brought tons of energy on the defensive side of the puck.

14U Division: Nominating Coach: Richie Santangelo

• Team: Woodbridge Wolfpack
• Player’s Name: Alfonso Giaquinto
• Jersey Number: 91
• Position: Forward
• Game-winning goal in overtime.

15U Division: Nominating Coach: Adam Mitchell

• Team: New Jersey Jets
• Player’s Name: Luc Jansson
• Jersey Number: 28
• Position: Goalie
• Luc led us to a 3-1 win in our only game this weekend, stopping 27 of 28 shots, including many timely saves.

16U Division: Nominating Coach: Eric Conway

• Team: Westchester Express
• Player’s Name: Jacob Dufresne
• Jersey Number: 31
• Position: Goalie
• Dufresne locked the door stopping 22 of 23 pucks his way en route to a 6-1 win over the Arrows. This was not only a big THF win for the Express but also had major NY state tournament implications.

18U Division: Nominating Coach: JT Henke

• Team: Northern Cyclones Academy
• Player’s Name: Jordan Bowman
• Jersey Number: 17
• Position: Forward
• Jordan had another great offensive weekend tallying 4G 2A in 2 games and helping improve the 18U Cyclones to 21-2-1 in THF Play.

Honorable Mentions
All players nominated by a coach receive an Honorable Mention

Hudson Usmail	Utica Jr. Comets	9U	33	Defense
Oscar Page	Utica Jr. Comets	9U	5	Goalie
Robbie Fenn	NY Arrows	13U	14	Goalie
Jack Fazio	Skipjack Hockey Academy	16U	35	Goalie
Brenden Patterson	RoughRiders	16U	55	Goalie
Nick Drogan	Westchester Express	16U	92	Forward
Nick Olshanski	PHA Icemen	18U	92	Forward
Jimmy Thorpe	Skipjacks Hockey Academy	18U	17	Forward

For the week ending on January 21st, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the THF KRACH page here.

The teams that are in first in each division are Wolfpack (9U), Wolfpack (10U), CT Jr Rangers (11U), Wolfpack (12U), Rockets (13U), Rockets (14U), Rockets (15U), Rockets (16U), and Rockets (18U).