Esmark 18U forward Kozlina signs NAHL tender

Esmark 18U forward Shane Kozlina played in the 2021-22 NAPHL 18U All-Star Game.

The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Shane Kozlina has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the North Iowa Bulls of the NAHL's Central Division.

Kozlina, a 17-year old Cranberry Township, PA, resident has skated for Esmark for a pair of season, this year with Star's U18 AAA Midget Major team and during the 2020-21 season with Star's 16U AAA Midget Minor team.

The (5'11", 165 lbs.) senior at Seneca Valley High School, has registered 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists), including three shorthanded goals, one power play goal and two game-winning goals, in 20 regular season NAPHL games played to date.

He also notched a pair of assists at the 2021 NAPHL 18U All-Star game to help Team Grey to 5-1 win.

Overall, Kozlina has registered 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists), including 2 power play goals and 4 shorthanded goals, in 37 games played to date during the '21-'22 season.

During the 2020-21 season, Kozlina registered 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists), including two shorthanded goals and two game-winning-goal, in 20 regular season NAPHL games and 2 points (2 goals), in five NAPHL Dixon Cup Playoff games for Esmark's U16 Stars.

"Shane is a high energy forward with an off the charts work ethic ... and a knack for the net," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "His work ethic has created a tremendous amount of interest from several NAHL Junior teams."

"He will be a great pick-up for the Bulls and Coach Sanden," Kosick added. "His ability to fill multiple roles can make him an important asset to North Iowa."

Kozlina becomes the first member of the 2021-2022 Esmark 18U AAA team to sign a tender with an NAHL club. Last season, the Stars had nine players sign Junior A Tender offers.

Click here to see a list of NAPHL tenders for the 2021-22 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 November 1st. Tendered players are not eligible for the 2022 NAHL Draft.