Stars 18U forward Stock signs NAHL Tender

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League have announced that Esmark Stars 18U AAA Hockey forward Jacob Stock has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Watertown Shamrocks.

“Jacob is one of those players with an instinct to be in the right place at the right time,” said Star’s U18 head coach, Dave Kosick. “He is a crafty and gifted offensive player who can score goals … in a variety of situations … while also getting under the skin of and creating chaos for an opponent.”

The 18-year-old forward from Clairton, PA, recorded 16 points (6 goals and 10 assists), in 17 T1ER North American Prospects Hockey League regular season games and five (5) Dixon Cup Playoff Games, including two (2) power-play goals, in helping lead the U18 Stars to the NAT1HL’s Regular Season and Playoff Championships.

Overall the 5’10” / 150 lbs. forward tallied 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists), including two power- play goals, in 68 games played for the Star’s U18 AAA Midget Major squad. The 2023-24 season was Stock’s second season with the Esmark Stars AAA Hockey program. During the 2022-23 season, Stock recorded 18 points (7 goals and 11 assists), in 20 NAT1HL regular season and playoff games for Esmark’s U16 squad.

Overall during the 2022-23 season, Stock tallied 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists), including one (1) power play goal and five (5) shorthanded goal, in 65 games played for Esmark U16 AAA Midget Major squad.

“As this will be the Shamrocks inaugural season, Jacob has an opportunity from the beginning to establish a role with them,” Kosick added. “He is the style of player all teams are seeking … an agitator who can put up points.”

The Shamrocks will join the NAHL’s eight-team Central Division along with the Aberdeen Wings (SD), Austin Bruins (MN), Bismarck Bobcats (ND), Minnesota Mallards, Minot Minotauros (ND), North Iowa Bulls (IA), and St. Cloud Norseman (MN). 

The 2024-25 season will be the inaugural season in the NAHL for the Shamrocks, along with their fellow Central Division opponent Minnesota Mallards. The Shamrocks will play in the new Prairie Lakes Ice Arena in Watertown, South Dakota, and are led by Head Coach Casey Kirley.

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.