Esmark 18U forward Thomas signs NAHL tender

The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League are pleased to announce that 18U forward Alex Thomas has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Colorado Grit of the NAHL’s South Division.

The 2023-24 season is Thomas’ first season with Esmark's U18 Midget Major squad.

The (5'10" / 160 lbs.) 18-year-old from North Huntington, PA, has registered 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists), in eight T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League appearances so far this season, including two power-play goals and two game winning goals for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad.

Overall, this season to date, Thomas has tallied 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists), including eight power play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 27 games played for Esmark (through Nov. 9).

"Alex is an extremely gifted player with an explosive skill set,” said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He has the tools to succeed in the NAHL and Colorado landed a talented player who will give them a high-end offensive threat.”

Thomas is the second member of the 2023-2024 Esmark 18U AAA team to sign a tender with a Junior A club. Teammate Max Rutkowski previously signed with the NAHL’s Oklahoma Warriors.

Click here to see a list of T1ER tenders for the 2023-24 season

A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include two (2) tenders exclusively used on players from the T1ER - plus or minus any trades - which became active on November 1st. Tendered players are not eligible for the 2024 NAHL Draft.