Johnstown Tomahawks name Jared Kersner as new Head Coach

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Johnstown Tomahawks announced Jared Kersner will take over as Head Coach and General Manager of the team.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to Mr. Koufis for entrusting me with the responsibility of being the next head coach of the Johnstown Tomahawks”, Kersner said. “This opportunity represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and passion for the game of hockey. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Koufis and the entire organization for believing in my abilities and giving me the chance to lead this team.”

Kersner becomes the third head coach in the franchises’ 13th season.

“As I step into this new role, I am filled with excitement and a sense of purpose. I am committed to upholding the proud traditions and values of the Johnstown Tomahawks while also bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the table,” Kersner added. “Together with the players, coaching staff, and management, I am confident that we can achieve great success both on and off the ice.”

The Maryland native began coaching after graduating from Becker College in 2010 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. At Becker, he was a huge part of their Divison III hockey program, serving as team captain during his junior and senior years.

After graduating, Kersner went to coaching with AAA teams. He led teams to multiple league championships and appearances at USA Hockey Nationals. In 2013, he co-founded the Skipjacks Hockey Club, which was nationally recognized at the U16/U18 level. He also co-founded Pinnacle Performance, a specialized training program for elite youth, junior and professional hockey players during the off-season.

“We are excited to introduce Jared Kersner as the next Head Coach and General Manager of the Johnstown Tomahawks and welcome him and his family to the Johnstown community,” Tomahawks majority owner, John Koufis said. “We interviewed many qualified candidates over the last several weeks, but ultimately felt Jared’s strong understanding of today’s junior hockey landscape, his vision for our program, and his passion for community, players, and the game of
hockey aligned with the direction we had for the franchise when we completed the acquisition of the team just over a year ago. We look forward to Jared leading the program, as all of us work together to help our players achieve their goals and, in the process, compete for a Robertson Cup championship.”

For the past two seasons, Kersner has been the head coach and GM for the Rockets Hockey Club in the NCDC. Kersner currently lives in York, PA, with his wife Brandis and two daughters.

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The Tomahawks will be holding a press conference to welcome Kersner on Tuesday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the Stars and Stripes Lounge on the second floor of 1st Summit Arena.

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