Esmark 18U defenseman Ramanau signs NAHL tender

The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Yahor Ramanau has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Wichita Falls Warriors of the NAHL’s South Division.

The 18-year old from Minsk, Belarus, Ramanau, a senior at Greensburg Central Catholic, is in his fourth season with the Esmark AAA program. Prior to joining the U18 squad this season, Ramanau had previously skated for Esmark’s U14 (‘17-’18), U15 (‘18-’19), and U16 (’19-’20) squads in the previous three seasons.

"Yahor is a highly skilled defenseman who blends the eastern European and western North American style into his own style of play," Esmark Stars U18 head coach Dave Kosick said.  "As the season has progressed, he has attracted attention from multiple teams ... including both NAHL and USHL teams."

“Having the opportunity to develop in our system for the past four year while working closely with Yuri Krivokhija (Esmark’s defensive skills coach, as well as head coach of the Stars U16 AAA team) has certainly given Yahor an opportunity to develop, refine and showcase his skill set,” Kosick added.

Ramanau (6’0”, 170 lbs.) tallied 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists), including two game-winning goals, in 25 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff games.  And 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) overall, including six power-play and one shorthanded goal and a +23 plus/minus rating, in 54 games played.

Last season, Ramanau tallied 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists), including 1 power play goal, in 20 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff games for the Stars U16 AAA squad.

During the 2018-19 season, he recorded 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists), in 16 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) regular season and Dixon Cup Playoff games for the Stars U15 AAA squad.

"Ramanau will bring a really solid mix of offensive and defensive skills to Garrett Roth’s Warriors club next season," Kosick said.

Ramanau is the fourth Esmark player to sign a tender with an NAHL club thus far during the 2020-2021 season.  He joins teammates Nathan Dickey, goaltender, Kenai River Brown Bears, Ryder Brophy, forward, Lone Star Brahmas, and Zachary Stoner, Johnstown Tomahawks, in signing tenders with Junior A clubs for the 2021-2022 season.

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.