The five Pens Elite alumni selected for next weekend's North American Hockey League Top Prospects Tournament in Plymouth, Michigan, share a common destination, but each forged their own unique path to the annual All-Star event.

Dalton Hunter, a 1997 currently in his 3rd season with the Johnstown Tomahawks, last suited up for the Pens in the 2013-2014 season where he was a mid-season call-up to the Midget Major's from the U16's. Dalton currently leads the NAHL with a +33 rating, has put up 46 points in 44 games (24 goals and 22 assists) to rank 6th in league scoring, and recently committed to Mercyhurst University in the Atlantic Hockey Conference. When Hunter left for Johnstown at age 16 for the 2014-2015 season, he did so as one of the youngest players in the NAHL at the time, which traditionally contains older players. His first two years in the league provided invaluable experience that has led to the offensive outburst seen this season. This is Dalton's first Top Prospects Selection, and he will represent the NAHL Selects Team, which is a team comprised of some of the best players in the league regardless of divisional affiliation.

Thomas Horn, a 1996 Mt. Lebanon native, is the second member of the 2013-2014 Pens Elite Midget Majors to be selected as a NAHL Top Prospect. Horn has spent the last two seasons with Johnstown after moving between the Rio Grande Killer Bees and the Keystone Ice Miners in his first year of NAHL hockey. Also in his third year in the league, Horn has recorded 24 points in 35 games this season. In addition to his offensive production, Horn is a trusted leader on the Tomahawks, as he is an assistant captain and leads the team with 184 penalty minutes. Thomas will represent the East Division at the event, and this is also his first All-Star Selection.

Adam Pilewicz is the third member of Tomahawks and the 2013-2014 Pens Elite Midget Majors selected for Top Prospects this season. Joining Horn as an assistant captain in his second year in Johnstown, the defenseman leads the Tomahawks rearguard in scoring, registering 24 points and 83 penalty minutes in 44 games this year and is sixth in plus/minus among NAHL defenseman with a +24 rating. Pilewicz, a 1996 from Sewickley, showcased his scoring acumen in the 2014-2015 Pens Elite campaign, as he netted 14 goals and 47 points en route to his tender with the Tomahawks. This is Adam's first appearance in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, and he will lace up for the East Division in the event.

Forward Paul Maust was on the roster for last years National Championship Midget Major squad before landing a spot on the expansion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. Maust parlayed a strong 2015 National Championship performance as a midget-minor into a 2015 NAHL Entry Draft Selection with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last June. Despite being among the younger players in the league as a 1998, he used his strong two-way play in addition to his high skill set and hockey-IQ and put together a 31 point season in 59 games last year. His encore performance has been even better so far. After a brief stint with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the preseason, Maust returned to the Knights with a vengeance, and has already surpassed his point totals from last year by adding 12 goals and 20 assists to go with his 94 penalty minutes. His versatility and production has not gone unnoticed, and he will join Horn and Pilewicz as members of the East Division squad at Top Prospects. This is Maust's first career Top Prospects Selection.

The only alumnus on this list to make the Top Prospects Showcase in his rookie campaign will be forward Luke Edgerton, who will be representing the South Division as a member of the Amarillo Bulls. Edgerton was an integral part of last years National Championship squad, as he tendered with the Bulls midway through a season that saw him rack up 37 goals and 45 assists in just 63 games played. A 1997 Wheeling, WV native, Edgerton played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights U18 program in 2014-2015 before joining the Pens for their championship run last year. Luke is a dynamic playmaker at the center position, and he possesses elite hands and vision. Despite an injury shortened start to his rookie season in the NAHL, Edgerton has continued to produce as he sits at just under a point-per-game with 21 points in his first 23 games in the Texas Panhandle.

Each player faced a unique set of challenges to reach this point in their respective careers, but we are proud to call each one a program alumnus and wish them the best of luck when they take the ice on February 27th and 28th in Plymouth! 

Follow next weekend's action live on HockeyTV, and stay up-to-date with daily recaps featured on NAHL.com