The Pittsburgh Viper Stars AAA Tier I amateur hockey club of the
North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), has announced it has
reached agreement with Pittsburgh-based Esmark, Inc., to serve as
primary sponsor for the club’s Tier I AAA amateur hockey teams for the
next five years.
“We are honored to be associated with a partner of Esmark’s stature,” said Viper Stars founder Dave Kosick.
“We have enjoyed a close working atmosphere with Esmark for the past
few years and look forward to an even stronger relationship for many
years to come.”
Esmark is a diversified, privately-held family company with a
portfolio of industrial companies with strong roots in the steel
industry. Over the years, Esmark has diversified its interests and
operations into a number of businesses engaged in the industrial and
commodity sectors.
Since its reemergence on the public scene, Esmark has invested both
considerable time and resources with a number of community,
philanthropic and youth development initiatives.
“We are delighted to enhance our relationship with the Viper Stars
program. Not only have they provided ice hockey playing opportunities
to many of the top young players from the western Pennsylvania region
for the past 30 years, they have mentored these young men and helped
them with the transition into adulthood,” said Esmark CEO James Bouchard.
“As a family-owned and managed enterprise, Esmark has been an
active and committed member of the communities in which it operates,”
said Esmark president Greg Pilewicz. “We believe
strongly in supporting selective partners who share the same
philosophical goals of youth development through education, recreation,
and human services as well as provide families with access to critical
programs and humanitarian services.”
As part of the agreement, the Viper Stars, who are members of the
North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), will now play under a
new name, Esmark Stars, with a new logo.
The Viper Stars AAA program has offered many of the region’s top
amateur ice hockey players an opportunity to showcase their skills on a
national and international level over the past 29 years under the names
Pittsburgh Stars, Steel City Stars and most recently Pittsburgh Viper
Stars. Drawing players primarily from western Pennsylvania, northern
West Virginia and eastern Ohio, the newly named Esmark Stars program is
an elite travel level program designed to showcase players for junior
and collegiate opportunities.
The Esmark Stars, proud members of the North American Prospects
Hockey League (NAPHL) and USA Hockey, offer western Pennsylvania and the
tri-state area the only Tier I AAA full?season travel ice hockey
program that encourages participation on both the travel and
interscholastic levels.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
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