Esmark 18U goalie Dickey signs NAHL tender

The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U goaltender Nathan Dickey has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the NAHL’s Midwest Division.

The 17-year old Butler, PA native, who is a senior at Butler High School, is in his sixth season skating with the Stars AAA Hockey program.  He joined the Stars and skated for their Pee Wee major club (12U) during the 2015-16 season, and subsequently skated for their Bantam Minor, Bantam Major, U15 Midget Minor and U16 Midget Minor teams prior to joining  the U18 Midget Major AAA Stars for the 2020-2021 season.

To date, Dickey (6'1", 170 lbs.) has recorded a 5-0-0-0 record in 5 overall appearances, with a .936 save percentage and a goals against average (GAA) of 1.40 during the 2020-21 season.  In three North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances to date season, Stobel has a 3-0-0-0 record, with a .957 save percentage and a goals against average (GAA) of 1.00.

Dickey missed most of October for his Esmark club as he attended Kenai River's 2020 main camp as an invitee.

During the 2019-20 NAPHL 16U season, Dickey had an overall record of 6-4-0-1, with a .875 save percentage, and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.33, including three shutouts, in 12 regular season and Dixon Cup appearances.

During the 2018-19 NAPHL 15U season, Dickey had an overall record of 5-6-0-1, with a .899 save percentage, and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.75, including two shutouts, in 12 regular season and Dixon Cup appearances.

"Nathan has certainly demonstrated to the Brown Bear's staff that he is among the premier midget major goaltenders in the nation," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "His skill set and work ethic certainly set him aside."

"It was never a case of would he tender, rather it was where would he tender," Kosick added.   "And Kevin ... (Murdock, head coach at Kenai River) ... landed himself an elite goaltender."

Click here for a list of 2020-21 NAPHL tenders

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 2021 NAHL Draft.