FRISCO, TEXAS – The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced its Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performers for the month of January.  The players were selected based upon their performance at the fifth, and final regular season NAPHL event of the season, which took place at the Troy Sports Center in Troy, MI, Jan. 7 - 10.

Esmark Stars 16U AAA goaltender Jake Kucharski was selected as "second star - goaltender" in the 16U AAA Division at the event.

The 16-year-old native of Erie, PA, shined for Esmark during the event in Troy, as the Stars posted a 4-1-0 record and locked-up a playoff berth for the upcoming NAPHL Playoffs.

Kucharski, a 6’3", 187 lbs., netminder, got the start in three of the five 16U AAA Esmark games in Troy and allowed just two goals during that span. He stopped 53 of 55 shots he faced, good for a 96.36% save percentage, and picked-up two shutouts and one overtime shootout win.

He opened the event with a shutout against the New York Aviators, stopping all 13 shots he faced in a 7-0 win. The next day, he made 25 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the Madison Capitols, to clinch a playoff berth for the Stars.  In overtime, Jake stopped the first three shooters he faced in a five-man shootout, allowing only a single goal, as the Stars scored three goals with their first four shooters to clinch the shootout win. In his third start at the event, Kucharski turned aside all 15 shots he faced to earn the shut-out and 9-0 win over the Philadelphia Little Flyers.

Kucharski, who split goaltending duties with Ty Barkley this season, appeared in 14 NAPHL league games, starting 12, and had a league record of 6-6-0-1, with three shut-outs. He finished the NAPHL regular season with the 7th best goals against average (GAA), 1.77, and the 8th best save percentage, 91.7%. 

"Jake played well in Troy ," said Esmark 16U head coach Yuri Krivokhija. "He did his job and gave us a chance to win each game in which he played. The overtime win against Madison was huge and Jake came up big in the shoot-out."

Now in its 7th season, the NAPHL is composed of Midget Major (18U) and Midget Minor (16U) teams from across North America that compete at the Tier I level.  The NAPHL has established itself as the premiere training ground for development and exposure. Not only have players in the NAPHL received recognition from NHL Central Scouting, dozens have received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and hundreds more have been drafted and tendered by North American Hockey League (NAHL) and United States Hockey League (USHL) teams. The NAPHL, which is sanctioned by USA Hockey, utilizes the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and is designed to maximize the exposure of all the participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events that attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts.