T1ER announces USPA Peak Performers for NAHL Showcase

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is proud to announce the USPA T1ER Peak Performers from the September Showcase! The opening event of the 2025–26 season delivered high-end talent, intense matchups, and breakout performances across the 18U, 16U, 15U and 14U divisions. These players rose above the rest in Blaine, Minnesota, earning top honors for their standout play from September 25–28.

18U:

Forward: Filip Pliastos, Indiana Elite

Filip Pliastos was a force for Indiana Elite at the NAHL Showcase, finishing as the top scorer in the 18U division with 10 points (5 goals, 4 assists) in four games. He notched three points in three separate contests and chipped in one more in the fourth, proving to be a consistent threat every time he hit the ice. Even when the scoresheet showed just one assist in regulation against the Colorado Thunderbirds, Pliastos made his mark, burying the deciding shootout tally to seal the win. His performance in Blaine signals that the longtime Elite forward is ready to make his final season of youth hockey his best yet.

Defenseman: Adam Charrafi, Philadelphia Hockey Club

Adam Charrafi played a key role in PHC’s offensive success throughout the event, recording points in both of the team’s wins over the Lincoln Stars and Green Giants. In game one, a 6-1 victory over Lincoln, Charrafi opened the scoring with PHC’s first T1ER goal of the season on the power play. He followed it up with an assist on the team’s second goal, then found the back of the net again for PHC’s third. To cap off a stellar outing, he added another assist on the fifth goal, finishing the day with four points. PHC carried that momentum into game two, dominating the Green Giants 7-0. The team’s explosive first period featured four goals, including another from Charrafi.

Goaltender: Owen Kinsel, Lincoln Stars

Despite a tough opening loss, Owen Kinsel and the Lincoln Stars bounced back in dominant fashion, winning their next three games to finish the event 3-1. The Oakton, VA native faced a barrage of 139 shots, turning away 127 with poise and consistency all weekend. His standout performance came on the 26th against the Jr. Coyotes, where Kinsel was nothing short of spectacular, stopping 23 of 24 shots in a 3-1 victory for a .958 save percentage and solidifying himself as a key reason for the Stars’ three-game winning streak.

16U:

Forward: Nolan Marto, Team North Dakota

Nolan Marto was the driving force behind Team North Dakota’s offense at the Showcase, erupting for 11 points (6G, 5A) in four games, an impressive 2.75 points per game, as the team went undefeated in Blaine. He set the tone early with a hat trick in game one, accounting for three of the team’s seven goals. Against CarShield, Marto assisted on the team’s first two tallies, including one on the power play, before netting the game-winning goal in the third period. His momentum carried into game three, where he was unstoppable once again, scoring two shorthanded goals and adding three assists for a five-point performance.

Defenseman: Harrison Dana, Omaha Masterty 

Harrison Dana was a playmaking force throughout the event, recording assists in all four games as Omaha went 3-0-1-0, now sitting second overall in the standings. Dana started strong with three assists in the opening period of the event, setting the tone early. He matched that performance in game two, picking up three more helpers, including one on the game-winning goal. Even in an overtime loss in game three, Dana stayed consistent, assisting on Omaha’s lone power-play tally. He closed out the weekend with another two assists in a dominant win over the Danbury Hat Tricks, finishing with nine assists in four games, an impressive 2.25 points per game.

Goaltender: Luukas Moffat, Biggby Coffee

First-year Biggby goaltender Luukas Moffat impressed at the NAHL Showcase, shining in front of scouts with a 2-0-0-1 record, his lone setback coming in overtime. Across three games, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native faced 64 shots, turning aside 61 for a stellar .953 save percentage and a 0.97 goals-against average. In a 3-1 win over the LA Jr. Kings, Moffat was outstanding, stopping 23 of 24 shots for a .958 save percentage, his second straight victory of the event. Even in the overtime loss to Team North Dakota, he stood tall, allowing just two goals on 27 shots in another strong showing.

15U:

Forward: Henry Cooley, Omaha Mastery 

Henry Cooley was a force for Mastery at the Showcase, leading the 15U division in scoring with nine points (6G, 3A) as his team went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend. He recorded points in three of four games, all multi-point efforts, and made a major impact on special teams, netting three power-play goals. After opening the event with two- and three-point performances, Cooley capped things off in style with a four-point outing against Danbury, scoring twice (including the game-winner) and adding two assists to seal a dominant weekend.

Defenseman: Reese Frykman, Team North Dakota

Reese Frykman made a major impact from the blue line for Team North Dakota, tallying six points (4 goals, 2 assists) to rank second among all 15U defensemen in scoring and first in goals. Frykman found the back of the net in each of the team’s first three games, showcasing impressive consistency. He opened the event with a goal in game one, followed by a two-goal performance in game two that included a power-play tally. His best outing came in a 5-3 win over CarShield, where he scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game early in the third period before assisting on the next two goals, including the game-winner, to cap off the weekend.

Goaltender: Darren Riley, Pittsburgh Stars

Darren Riley was nothing short of spectacular between the pipes for the Stars, winning both of his starts and stealing the spotlight with a stunning 26-save shutout against Team North Dakota. He set the tone in the opener as well, turning away 11 shots in a 5-1 win over CarShield, keeping them 0-for-5 on the power play. By the end of the weekend, Riley posted an incredible .974 save percentage and 0.50 GAA, proving he was an unstoppable force in net.

14U:

Forward: Maximilian Norman, Pittsburgh Stars

Venetia, PA native Maximilian Norman was a steady offensive presence for the Stars, collecting points in three of four games as the team earned two wins at the event. He set the tone early in the opening 4-3 win over the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights, assisting on the game’s first goal and later burying the power-play game-winner. Even in back-to-back losses to the Moose and Grey Ducks, Norman stayed on the scoresheet, tallying four assists, three of them coming in the matchup against the Moose. He and the Stars closed out the weekend on a high note, defeating the Jr. Kraken, with Norman contributing a goal and an assist in the 5-2 victory.

Defenseman: Lucas Pickering, CarShield

Lucas Pickering helped lead CarShield to a 3-1 record at the event, finishing with the second-most points on the team and the most among defensemen. In a thrilling opening matchup against the Lakers, the 2011-born blueliner came through in the clutch, scoring the game-tying power-play goal with just 11 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime, where CarShield went on to win in a shootout. Pickering continued to shine in a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh, contributing on both special teams with a power-play assist on the first goal and a shorthanded assist on the final tally. He capped off a strong weekend with his best performance yet, scoring two goals, including the power-play game-winner, and adding an assist in a 3-2 win over Omaha.

Goaltender: Ryan Fahy, Philadelphia Hockey Club

Ryan Fahy was stellar between the pipes for PHC, appearing in two games and earning a pair of wins with clutch performances in both outings. In game one, the West Deptford, New Jersey native allowed just one goal on 19 shots as PHC held their opponent scoreless on all five power-play chances. Fahy was tested more in game two against the Loons, facing 32 shots and turning aside 30 in a 3-2 victory. Across the weekend, he stopped 48 of 51 shots, finishing with an impressive .941 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average.