Esmark 18U defenseman Ekberg signs NAHL tender
November 20, 2014
The Esmark Stars, proud members of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Carter Ekberg has signed an North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Janesville Jets. Janesville competes in the NAHL’s North Division.
Ekberg, 17, is currently in his third season playing for the Stars organization in the NAPHL. He has had an outstanding season to date, as he leads the Stars 18U team in scoring with 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 14 games played. His 16 points is also tops for all NAPHL 18U defensemen.
The native of McMurray, Pennsylvania, has been named as the Apex Peak Performer for 18U defensemen in both September and October. While in Omaha last weekend, Ekberg (6’2/185) had three more points helping Esmark to a perfect 4-0 record at the event.
Last season, Ekberg was named to the All-NAPHL 16U 3rd Team and he also played in the inaugural NAPHL 16U All-Star Game. He was also named to the All-NAPHL Academic Team.
Esmark head coach Dave Kosick had the following to say about Ekberg’s abilities… “He is demonstrating his abilities week in and week out and that type of consistency will make him succeed at the next level. Carter has demonstrated that there is very little adjustment for him to the 18U level from the 16U level. He is a big player, but he also has learned to turn that into maturity both on and off the ice.”
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 NAPHL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held in June of 2015.
