T1ER League completes first event in Blaine
The NAPHL’s T1ER League got their 2023-24 season underway this past weekend during the NAHL Showcase in Blaine. In addition to all 32 NAHL teams, which included all of their coaching and scouting staffs, over 300+ NHL, NCAA, and junior scouts were in attendance during the four-day mega event.
The Showcase in Blaine not only featured all of the full-time T1ER teams at the 18, 16, 15, and 14U level, but also featured some guest teams, which included Belle Tire, the Michigan Development Hockey League, the Nashville Jr. Predators, Florida Alliance, Compuware, California Golden Bears, and several more organizations from the state of Minnesota such as the Blue Ox, Green Giants, Loons, Moose, Lakers, Walleye, Grey Ducks, and Voyageurs.
Entering its 15th season, the NAPHL’s T1ER League The has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement in recent seasons due to enjoying the opportunities provided by the Multi-Advancement Path to all levels of junior hockey. In the last five years, no other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players tendered in the NAHL than the T1ER League. In 2023, a total of 95 NAPHL T1ER players were either drafted or tendered by NAHL teams, which set new single-season record. Over 100+ T1ER alumni are currently rostered in the NAHL. In addition, five former T1ER players were selected in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Here is a look at the weekend recap by age group:
18U Division
Three teams sit atop the T1ER 18U Division after the first event, which includes the Philadelphia Little Flyers, Esmark Stars, and Biggby Coffee. The Little Flyers are being led by forward Jeremy Jacobs and defenseman Charles Leuthold. The Little Flyers have allowed just six goals in their four games to date thanks to goalies Andrew Dubin and Henry Goossen. The Esmark Stars have three players leading the way offensively in forwards Jacob Stock, Troy Jones, and Alexander Thomas. Hleb Subach and Landon Buterbaugh have both been solid in goal. Biggby is led by forward Timothy Hewko who has six points. Aden Gariepy and James King have both been solid in goal. Four teams sit at 3-1 including Omaha, Tri State, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia Hockey Club. Omaha is led by Kyle Sorensen, who leads the 18U Division in scoring so far with nine points. Tri State is also 3-1 and defenseman Eli Fox leads the team with six points. The New Jersey Jr. Titans played well also going 3-1 with their lone loss to Biggby. Forward Nikolas Reich and defenseman Ryan Starman lead the way through four games. The final 3-1 team is the Philadelphia Hockey Club, who have allowed just seven goals in four games and are led by goalie Lorenzo Rossi. At the 2-2 mark through two events are a host of teams including the Madison Capitols, CarShield, Maine Nordiques, Indiana Elite, and the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights. Madison has three players with seven points each including forwards Jayden Arnold, Ethan Christofferson, and Jacob Barth. CarShield picked up wins over Nashville and Colorado Springs, but had close losses against the Little Flyers and Belle Tire. Maine lost a couple of tight games against Esmark and Nashville, but beat Team Alaska and the Minnesota Walleye. After dropping their first two games, Indiana came back in the last two to beat two Minnesota clubs. Vegas beat two Minnesota teams during their first four games. The Seattle Jr. Kraken, Colorado Springs Tigers and Northeast Generals all picked up one win in Blaine as not a single team went winless.
16U Division
In the 16U Division, things are much more separated, even after jut four games. New Jersey, CarShield and Vegas all sit atop the standings with 4-0 records. Leading the way for the Titans are Nick Kasich with 10 points and Andrew Lisnock with 9 points. CarShield is being led by forwards Alex DeGroat and Devon Hobson. Vegas is winning with defense, allowing just four goals in four games thanks to goalies Jacob Brumm and Vincent Vitale. At 3-1 sit four more teams including Indiana Elite, Esmark Stars, Maine Nordiques and Madison Capitols. Indiana is led by six points from Brandon Murphy. The Esmark Stars lone loss came at the hand of Florida Alliance, but they have won the other games with defense, allowing just four goals in four games. Maine has gotten five points from forward Owen Gates and Madison is led by forward Eli Hahn. The lone 2-2 team are the Colorado Springs Tigers, who are being led by forward Gavin Zuber. The Seattle Jr. Kraken, Biggby Coffee, Philadelphia Little Flyers, and Tri State Spartans all sit at 1-3, while Omaha, Philadelphia Hockey Club, and the Northeast Generals sit at 0-4 after one event.
15U Division
In the 15U Division, the full-time teams were involved in some competitive games with the guest teams. Four of the guest teams went 4-0. In the regular standings, both the Madison Capitols and Janesville Jets leave the first event with a 2-1-1 record. The Capitols are led by five points from Mason Majewski, while the Jets are also led with a five-point effort from Hendrix Damrow. At 1-2-1 and in 3rd place sits CarShield who are led by Thomas Fair’s five points. The Esmark Stars, Philadelphia Hockey Club, and Maine Nordiques are all 1-3 after one event. The New Jersey Jr. Titans are 0-3-1 and the Philadelphia Little Flyers are 0-4.
