Esmark 16U team wins Labor Day tournament in Boston
September 12, 2016
The Esmark Stars 16U AAA club completed a successful road trip to New England over the Labor Day weekend, as they skated to the tournament championship of the 19th Annual Tier I Labor Day Face-Off Tournament in Boston.
Pittsburgh based Esmark opened play on Friday against the Boston Terriers and skated to a 6-1 win. Andrew Wells led the way on the offensive side scoring two goals. Andrew Murphy, Christian Gorscak, JT Schmizzi and Ethan Webb each found the back of the net once. Schmizzi added a pair of assists, and Gavin Morrison, Daniel Tkac, and Justin Adamski each chipped in an assist. Adam Ulan earned the win in goal.
The Stars returned to the ice on Saturday for a pair of games and defeated the Boston Bandits, 4-1, and Northstars Hockey, 3-1. Against the Bandits, Danny Tkac paced the way with a pair of goals. Tyler Morin and Christian Gorscak also scored in the win. Andrew Murphy had a pair of assists, Andrew Wells and Samuel Hrabcak each had one assist. Nico Pidro earned the win in goal. In the win over Northstars Hockey, Tyler Morin, William Rapone and Christian Gorscak each found the back of the net. Blake Rossi recorded two assists, and Justin Adamski, Ethan Webb, Rapone and Gorscak added one each. Nico Pidro earned his second consecutive win in goal.
On Sunday, the Stars closed out the round-robin part of play with a pair of wins over the Islanders full-season club, 3-0, and Boch Militia, 6-2. Against the Islanders, the Stars were led by Andrew Wells, 1 goal and 1 assist. Gavin Morrison and Tyler Morin also scored for Esmark. Sam Stites, Ethan Webb, Daniel Tkac and Corbin Ragno picked up helpers. Adam Ulan stopped all the shots he faced to earn the win and shutout in goal. Against Boch, as NBC Sports commentator Mike Milbury looked on, the Stars scored the final six goals of the game to complete round-robin play with an unblemished 5-0-0 record. JT Schmizzi recorded a hat-trick to lead the Stars in scoring. Andrew Wells, Billy Rapone and Christian Gorscak each scored a goal. Ethan Webb recorded two assists, while Wells, Rapone, Gorscak, Sam Stites, and Daniel Tkac each picked up single assists. Nico Pidro earned his third win of the the tournament in goal.
On Monday, in the Labor Day semi-finals, the Stars matched up with the Southern Connecticut Stars and skated to a 3-1 win. Tyler Morin and William Rapone each scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Stars. Andrew Wells scored the other Esmark goal. Samuel Hrabcak, Christian Gorscak and JT Schmizzi each picked up an assist. Adam Ulan earned the win in goal.
The Stars met up with New England powerhouse South Shore Kings, who also skated into the championship with an identical 6-0-0 record, for what promised to be an exciting and fast paced championship game. Samuel Hrabcak paced the Stars with a goal ... on a highlight deke and move ... and an assist. Andrew Murphy and JT Schmizzi also scored. Daniel Tkac recorded two assists, and Ryan Hastings and Johnny Macdonald added one assist each as the Stars came away with the win. Nico Pidro earned the win in goal.
With their win at the 19th Annual Tier I Labor Day Face-Off Tournament championship, Esmark became the first Pittsburgh area team to skate away with an elite division championship in one of North America's most prestigious events.
Now in its 32nd year, the Esmark Stars are proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League.
