Esmark, Las Vegas, Madison, Omaha, and Florida Capture Dixon Cup Titles

February 19, 2024

The 2024 NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoffs and Championships concluded on Monday, February 19th, in Troy, Michigan. The NAPHL crowned six T1ER League Champions.

Here is a look at the final day results:

18U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Esmark Stars 4 vs. CarShield AAA 1 - The Esmark Stars stunned the reigning Dixon Cup Champion CarShield AAA in a 4-1 final score. The game saw its first goal in the opening minute with Talen Garcia getting CarShield ahead. Just past the midway mark of the first, Timur Naletov evened the score with a Stars goal to end the period 1-1. In the second period, Esmark broke the tie with Nathan Burlando scoring for a 2-1 lead. In the third, Esmark kept their foot on the gas adding two goals with Liam Wiseman and Ethan Keller scoring for a 4-1 final. Stars goaltender Hleb Subach turned away 26 shots in the championship game.

16U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Las Vegas Golden Knights 4 vs. Indiana Elite 2 - The Las Vegas Jr. Golden Knights were victorious against Indiana Elite in the 16U Championship game. After a silent first period, the Knights added three unanswered goals. Jaxon Sabataso, Carson Craig and Liam Butsavich all found the back of the net for the 3-0 Vegas lead. Late in the period, Jake McIntosh scored to put Indy on the board, 3-1. In the third period, Micheal Esposito scored getting Indiana within a goal, 3-2. Late in the third, Collin Spencer netted the final goal of the contest for a 4-2 final. Goaltender Jacob Brumm earned the win in net stopping 13 shots.

15U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Madison Capitols 7 vs. Esmark Stars 4 - The Madison Capitols put it all on the line in a 7-4 victory over the Esmark Stars to be crowned the 15U Dixon Cup Champions. In the opening frame, Alexander Spence and Camden Guyette scored for a 2-0 Madison lead. The second period was full of back-to-back goals from both squads. Jackson Stocker and Mason Majewski both scored for Esmark, while Cullen Campbell and Tsimur Krasouski scored for Esmark, 4-2. In the third period, Mason Majewski netted his second of the game to extend Madison’s lead to 5-2. Esmark got back on the offensive side of the puck with Alex Patsilevas and Noah Staines both scoring for a 5-4 score. Soon after, Madison’s Brogan Davis added back-to-back goals for the win, 7-4. Madison goaltender Hayden Niceswanger earned the win in net for the championship game.

14U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Omaha Mastery AAA 2 vs. CarShield AAA 1 - Omaha Mastery AAA and CarShield AAA went down to the wire where Omaha was victorious in a 2-1 final. The games action picked up in the third period where Caden Clark got CarShield on the scoreboard at 14:23, 1-0. Soon after, Caden Ingalls found the back of the net to get the game tied up 1-1 for Omaha. At 16:22 Sam Snyder netted the game winning goal for Omaha, 2-1. Mastery goaltender Grady Curtis played near perfect in the championship game.

13U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Florida Alliance (North) 5 vs. CarShield AAA 2 - Florida Alliance had a strong third period to push past CarShield AAA to claim the 13U Dixon Cup Championship in a 5-2 final. The game was tied after the first period 2-2 with Gunnar Lager and Gabriel-Axel Johansen scoring for Florida while Kane Baskett and Owen Kelsey scoring for CarShield. The 2-2 tie was broken in the second period with an Alliance goal from Alec Walker making the score 3-2. In the third, Walker added two more goals for the hat-trick and the 13U Championship title for a 5-2 final. Florida Alliance goalie Zakary Litchfield stopped 27 of the shots he faced.

12U T1ER Dixon Cup Championship: Esmark Stars (Red) 4 vs. Sylvania North Stars 3 (OT) - The Esmark Stars out-shined the Sylvania North Stars in an overtime thrilling 4-3 game. Maximilian Norman got the lone goal of the first period as Esmark took a 1-0 lead. In the second, Zander Shank answered back for Sylvania, evening the game 1-1. George Lewarchik and Tyler Avolia scored for Esmark, while Zander Shank netted his second to end the second period with a 3-2 score. In the third period, Sylvania’s Blaine Hermani found the back of the net which would tie the game 3-3, forcing overtime. In the extra frame, Tristan Waite scored the championship game winner for a 4-3 final. Ixander Zamias took the win in net for the Esmark Stars.

All-Time Dixon Cup Tier 1 Champions

2024: 18U-Esmark Stars, 16U-Las Vegas Jr. Golden Knights, 15U-Madison Capitols, 14U-Omaha Mastery AAA, 13U-Florida Alliance, 12U-Esmark Stars (Red)

2023: 18U-CarShield AAA, 16U-Biggby Coffee, 15U-Esmark Stars, 14U-Indy Jr. Fuel

2022: 18U-Northstar Knights, 16U-Esmark Stars, 15U-Reapers Hockey Association, 14U-Reapers Hockey Association

2021: 18U-Northstar Knights, 16U-Florida Alliance, 15U-CarShield AAA, 14U-Arizona Bobcats/Colorado Springs Tigers

2020: 18U-Meijer AAA, 16U-Gentry Academy, 15U-CarShield AAA

2019: 18U-Thunder Bay Kings, 16U-Meijer AAA, 15U-Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

2018: 18U-Esmark Stars, 16U-Arizona Bobcats, 15U-Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

2017: 18U-Madison Capitols, 16U-Esmark Stars, 15U-Washington Little Caps

2016: 18U-Madison Capitols, 16U-Omaha AAA

2015: 18U-New Jersey Jr. Titans, 16U-Omaha AAA

2014: 18U-Omaha AAA, 16U-Lansing Capitals