T1ER Top Prospects Tournament Concludes
Alex DeGroat (CarShield AAA) scored twice on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s matchups marked the conclusion of the 2024 T1ER Top Prospects Tournament at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. The day began with a 16U matchup, with Team Blue finding a win once again. Team White wrapped up the day with a convincing win over Blue to split the two-game set. Overall, the event was heavily attended and scouted at both age divisions, providing numerous opportunities for the league’s best on best to showcase their talents.
“What a great opportunity for our T1ER players to be included in one of the premier scouting events of the year. We had both NAHL and NCAA scouts in attendance and were impressed by the level of play of both our 16U and 18U T1ER prospects. We look forward to seeing them climb the ladder to the NAHL and participate in this event as an NAHL player someday,” said Dennis Vickers, Director of Player Personnel and Director of the NAPHL.
16U: Four goals in the 2nd period was enough for Team Blue to take down Team White in consecutive days at the Top Prospects Tournament, winning 6-4. Andrew Lisnock (New Jersey Jr. Titans) and Casey Berninger (Vegas Jr. Golden Knights) provided a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes for Team White. The Blue squad caught fire in the offensive end during the middle frame as Alex DeGroat (CarShield AAA) buried a pair while Trevor Young (Indiana Elite) and Edward Sun (Seattle Jr. Kraken) also tickled twine. Vitalii Ulianov (Esmark Stars) and Emmett McClaine (Esmark Stars) added more goals in the 3rd period for Blue while Ethan Coots (Philadelphia Hockey Club) and Ryan Frey (Philadelphia Hockey Club) scored the remaining goals for White. White’s Jacob Brumm (Vegas Jr. Golden Knights) and Blue’s Jacob Aranda (Philadelphia Little Flyers) got the start for each team in net, Brumm stopping a perfect 18 for 18 while Aranda kept out 12 of 14. White’s GCY - TJ Lepisto (Esmark Stars) and Blue’s Andrew Bely (CarShield AAA) stepped in for the 2nd half, Mclaughlin making 12 saves and Bely stopping 19 of 21.
18U: Team White’s Jeremy Jacobs (Philadelphia Little Flyers) tallied a hat trick to provide much of the offense in his squad’s 5-1 win to split the event with Team Blue. Connor Jalbert (Biggby Coffee AAA) scored his 2nd of the event to provide Blue their only lead through 20 minutes. Jacobs scored his 1st and 2nd of the game in the middle frame while Kevin Walton (Philadelphia Hockey Club) and Nicholas Rockey (Philadelphia Hockey Club) also found the back of the net. In the 3rd, Jacobs deposited the dagger late in the period to seal the victory and secure the hat trick. White’s Andrew Dubin (Philadelphia Little Flyers) and Blue’s Tyler Benjamin (Maine Nordiques) started in the crease for their respective squads, Dubin stopping 17 of 18 shots faced while Benjamin kept out 16 of 18. Landon Beterbaugh (Esmark Stars) came in for Dubin and made a perfect 16 for 16 stops. Lorenzo Rossi (Philadelphia Hockey Club) stepped in for Benjamin and made 13 saves on 16 shots.
