Esmark 18U forward Walker signs NAHL tender
May 4, 2020
The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Alex Walker has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Wichita Falls (TX) Warriors of the NAHL's South Division.
A native of Latrobe, PA, the 17-year old junior at Latrobe Area High School is in his third season with the Stars.
During the 2019-20 season, Walker (6'0/160 lbs) registered 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 16 regular season NAPHL games and 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in five NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for the U18 AAA Stars.
Overall, Walker registered 76 points (25 goals, 51 assists), including 7 power play goals and a +58 plus/minus rating on the season in 57 games played, helping lead Esmark’s Midget Major squad to the Mid-American District Championship and a spot as District Champions in the 2020 USA Hockey 18U Tier I National Championships.
During the 2018-19 season, Walker registered 16 points (7 goals, 5 assists), in 16 NAPHL regular season games and 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in four NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for the Stars U16 AAA squad. Overall, Walker registered 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 53 games played for Esmark.
During the 2017-18 season, Walker registered 10 points (8 goals, 2 assists) in 9 NAPHL regular season games and 3 points (1 goal, 2 assist2) in four NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games. Overall, Walker registered 71 points (29 goals, 42 assists) in 60 games played for the U15 AAA Stars during the season.
"Alex is a very gifted player who has worked hard at improving his game and skill set," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He has scored a number of highlight and memorable goals over the past three seasons with our program and his performance in NAPHL play and at the Mid-American District Championships solidified his high-end potential," Kosick continued.
Walker will join U18 AAA Esmark Stars teammates Lane Ruffner, defenseman, who previously signed a tender with Wichita Falls, the first tender offered by the Warriors since being tabbed to resume play in the NAHL for the 2020-2021 season; Ryder Brophy, forward, (Lone Star Brahmas); Connor Strobel, goaltender, (Johnston Tomahawks); Dustin Geregach, defenseman, (Johnston Tomahawks); and Tyler Stewart, forward, (Fairbanks Ice Dogs), who all had previously signed NAHL tenders for this upcoming 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 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 on July 21, 2020.
