NAPHL announces 2019-20 All-Star Game rosters
December 6, 2019
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is pleased to announce the rosters for the 2019-20 NAPHL 18U and 16U All-Star Games. The NAPHL 18U and 16U All-Star Games are scheduled for Sunday, December 15th at 6:30pm (18U) and 8:30pm (16U) at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota.
Each team consists of 21 players, including 12 forwards, six defensemen and three goaltenders.
18U roster note: The following players were selected to the 18U All-Star Game, but could not attend due to conflicts: Szymon Bieniek, D, Arizona Bobcats – Farrell Dinn, F, Team Maryland – Bryon Hartley, F, Philadelphia Little Flyers – Sean Kilcullen, D, Team Maryland – David Matousek, F, Philadelphia Little Flyers – Kevin McGuire, F, Seacoast Spartans – Patrick OConnell, F, Philadelphia Little Flyers – Joe Prouty, F, Sioux Falls Power
The NAPHL All-Star Games will feature players who are leading the way in the NAPHL and many of whom are considered top prospects in North America in their respective birth-years. The NAPHL has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement, which is again is highlighted this season by a large amount of advancement of players to the NAHL, which includes 80+ former players currently playing in the NAHL. No other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players play in the NAHL over the course of the last three seasons than the NAPHL.
Last season, a record number of players were tendered or drafted into the NAHL and USHL in large part because of the showcase events like the NAPHL All-Star Games, along with the 18U Top Prospects Tournament in May. With a strong handful of NCAA commitments, USHL call-ups and NAHL tenders already signed, the NAPHL is expecting another banner year in terms of player advancement, including those players appearing in this year’s All-Star Game.
“We are very pleased to see the NAPHL All-Star Games return. The NAPHL All-Star Games are a great event and highlight’s the league’s best players up to this point in the season. The NAHL Central Scouting team of scouts has done a tremendous job tracking the league throughout the season and providing feedback on the top players in the NAPHL,” said NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski. “Finalizing the rosters is always a difficult task. All of the NAPHL coaches nominations and feedback was very helpful in the process of trying to determine the final selections.”
The NAPHL All-Star Games are a part of the NAPHL’s sixth regular season event of the season, which will also be played in cooperation with the 2019 NA3HL Showcase. The entire event will run from December 13-17, 2019. All games at the event in Blaine, including the NAPHL All-Star Games, will be broadcast live and in HD through HockeyTV.
The All-Star teams were selected based on nominations from coaches and player evaluations from NAHL Central Scouting throughout the first three months of the season. Additionally, consideration was given to the overall standings when determining the number of players selected from each team in addition to those players who have already signed NAHL tenders or made NCAA Division I commitments.
