Esmark 18U forward Simko signs NAHL tender
The Esmark Stars AAA Hockey Club of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Brody Simko has signed a NAHL (North American Hockey League) tender agreement with the NAHL's Maryland Black Bears.
The 2022-23 season is Burlando’s third season with Esmark's AAA Hockey program and second year with the Star's U18 squad.
The (6'0", 190 lbs.) 18 year-old from Butler, PA, is the leading scorer in the NAPHL so far this season, registering 21 points (14 goals, 7 assists) in eight North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) appearances, including four power play goals and two game winning goals, for Esmark's U18 AAA Midget Major squad.
Overall this season to date, Simko, a 12th grader and Butler High School, has tallied 59 points (32 goals, 27 assists), including seven power play goals and one shorthanded goal, in 36 games played for Esmark to lead the Stars in scoring.
During the 2021-22 season, Simko recorded 17 points (4G, 13A) in 32 North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) regular season (28) and Dixon Cup Playoff (4) appearances, including one power play goal and three power play assists for Esmark’s U18 squad.
Overall during the ’21-‘22 season, Simko tallied 43 points (18G, 25A), including three power play goals, in 61 games played for Esmark.
During the 2020-21 season, Simko registered 23 points (10G, 13A) in 25 NAPHL regular season (20) and Dixon Cup Playoff (5) games played, helping lead the U16 Stars to the league Championship game. He was also selected to the NAPHL U16 All-Star game and scored a goal for Team Demko.
Overall during the ‘20-‘21 season, Simko tallied 49 points (27G, 22A), including nine power play goals, in 57 games played for Esmark
"Brody has worked really hard on his game and in doing so has stepped to the forefront and become a dominating force this season for our squad," said Esmark 18U head coach Dave Kosick. "He is an extremely talented offensive player who is a true threat to score every time he touches the puck … with a true scorer’s touch. But just as importantly, he has also become a true leader for our squad in the locker room."
Simko becomes the sixth member of the 2022-2023 Esmark 18U AAA team to sign a tender for the 2022-23 season, joining three teammates who had previously signed tenders with NAHL Junior A clubs, Derek Pietrzyk, forward, Corpus Christi IceRays; Wesley Schwartzmiller, forward, Minnesota Wilderness; Ian Norkevicus, defenseman, Fairbanks Ice Dogs; and Nathan Burlando, forward, Johnstown Tomahawks; as well as teammate Colin Ruffner, forward, who signed an NCDC tender with the Mercer Chiefs.
Click here to see a list of NAPHL tenders for the 2022-23 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 2023 NAHL Draft.
