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Stefan Krupski got an early birthday present from the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) last month.

The Crestwood senior, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Sunday, will be heading to Edina, Minnesota in a few weeks to compete in the NAPHL’s 2016 Top Prospects Tournament after being selected to Team Central’s roster.

“I’m very excited to go out there and show what I can do,” said Krupski, who will be joined by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights teammates Jeremy Wilber and Andrew Jackson at the weekend long event May 13-15.

Krupski tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) in 24 games with three of those six assists coming in the Knights’ final three regular-season games. The defenseman also recorded two assists in four NAPHL playoff games.

Krupski was a junior on last year’s Comets’ team that made some noise at the 2015 Flyers Cup. Crestwood advanced to the semifinals as the 19th seed in the 19-team high school hockey tournament.

One of his teammates on last year’s Comets squad, forward Matt Madry, had nothing but complimentary things to say about Krupski’s abilities and potential.

“His skating ability is amazing,” Madry said, who graduated from Crestwood last spring and is currently finishing up his freshman year at Penn State University.

As a new element this year, the NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament will be played in conjunction with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Robertson Cup Championship. This coincides with the NAHL’s announcement that the league will return to the format of hosting the Robertson Cup Championship, which will feature the four divisional winners of the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs competing for the NAHL’s annual National Championship.

What that means for Krupski is an opportunity for some big-time exposure.

“At first I really didn’t understand how big of an opportunity it is,” Krupski said of being named to the Top Prospects roster and playing in the same building while the NAHL playoffs are being played. “It will be a great chance to play in front of some of those guys.”

At the event, four teams representing four regions of the NAPHL – Central, North, South and West – will each play four games. Each team consists of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies) chosen by the NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament Selection Committee nominated by the league’s 18 head coaches. All the players in the NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament came from teams that played in the 18U Division this past season.

While undecided on where he will be playing hockey in the fall, Krupski has several options including the collegiate route where he has been looking into Robert Morris University. A good showing in this year’s NAPHL top prospects tournament might open the doors for Krupski to play in the NAHL next season.

“Potentially, yes,” Krupski said of getting himself some major exposure this summer at the NAPHL Tournament, “it might give me another option, so we’ll just have to see what happens.”

Crestwood senior and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights defenseman will be heading to Edina, Minnesota in a few weeks to compete in the NAPHL’s 2016 Top Prospects Tournament.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Krupski_Knights.jpg.optimal.jpgCrestwood senior and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights defenseman will be heading to Edina, Minnesota in a few weeks to compete in the NAPHL’s 2016 Top Prospects Tournament. Submitted photo

By Tony Androckitis

For Times Leader

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