USPHL Premier Welcomes Red Bank Generals In 2024-25 Season

By USPHL Staff 

The United States Premier Hockey League is excited to announce that the Red Bank Generals will be joining the league as a member of the USPHL Premier Conference in 2024-25. The Generals have been one of the most exciting and successful organizations to be founded in the 21st century. Based in Red Bank, N.J., the Generals are in their 22nd season. This will be their first season as a junior team after years of success in leagues such as the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF), Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL) and the New Jersey Youth Hockey League (NYJHL). 

Jack Callahan, who will be the Head Coach of the USPHL Premier Generals junior team, talked about the great excitement going around the whole Generals organization. 

“This is a huge stepping stone for our organization and we are excited to join the USPHL Premier,” said Callahan. “We will have a team that works hard and plays the game the right way. It’s an exciting time to be a General and we would not be here today without the leadership of Peter Herms and Yves Heroux.”

“The USPHL is excited to welcome owner Peter Herms, who also owns Muskegon in the USHL, and his management team of Yves Heroux and Jack Callahan,” said USPHL Commissioner Bob Turow. “This management team along with a world class facility is a great addition to the USPHL family.”

The United States Premier Hockey League, founded in 2012 with the 2013-14 season as its inaugural season, has seen more than 8,000 alumni advance to college hockey at the various levels, and more than 250 players move on to the pro levels. Several current NHL players cut their teeth in the USPHL, including Tage Thompson (P.A.L. Jr. Islanders), Jordan Harris (Islanders Hockey Club), John Marino and Ryan Donato (South Shore Kings) and Joey Daccord (Boston Junior Bruins). 

Prior to the 2022-23 season, the USPHL and the Tier 1 Hockey Federation announced its partnership in relation to USPHL member organizations who operate Midget teams, with the THF running the leagues at which they compete, as well as taking administrative control of the annual THF/USPHL Championships. The THF is a USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier-I Youth Hockey League that offers a highly competitive environment for Tier 1 and elite clubs nationwide, with an unbalanced schedule that ensures top-level play. 

The NJYHL is an AAHA sanctioned Tier II youth hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The EJEPL is a Tier II USA Hockey sanctioned league.

The Generals offer youth hockey players between the ages of 6-18 the opportunity to compete at the Tier I and Tier II levels with teams at the Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam and Midget levels for a total of 23 teams and over 350 kids. The Generals’ most notable alumni is Joakim Ryan who played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Carolina Hurricanes.

Home Rink – The Red Bank Armory Ice Complex

The Red Bank Armory Ice Complex is a premier ice skating facility located in Red Bank, N.J., that is home to ice skating for all ages. Once a military training facility that was constructed at the turn of the 20th century, the Armory housed the National Guard’s cavalry and the mechanized units right up until 1988. In 1998, the Armory was purchased privately to introduce the community to a facility that could provide the recreation of ice skating, ice hockey, and public skating for both youth and adults.

The Armory has recently undergone remarkable renovations, solidifying its status as a premier destination for youth hockey players. The upgrades include two state-of-the-art locker rooms, an Olympic weight room, cardio room, yoga room, RapidShot training facility, two sheets of Glice synthetic ice, a racquetball court, a golf simulator, and a Generals Club/Lounge exclusively for players and parents.

The complete lobby revitalization adds a touch of modernity to this historic venue, making it the ideal setting for fostering the development of young hockey talents.

Introducing the Red Bank Generals Staff 

Peter Herms – Principal Owner

Peter Herms is the principal owner of the Red Bank Armory Ice Complex, the Red Bank Generals Hockey Club and the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Peter played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire from 1982-86, serving as captain his senior year. He continued to have a professional career with stops in Muskegon (IHL) and SaPKo (First Division). After his playing career, Peter was an assistant coach at Princeton from 1987-91. For the past 30 years, Peter has run Gray Supply Corporation, a family-owned utility contractor in New Jersey that has been in business since 1916. Peter’s keen business background, hockey philosophy and commitment to developing hockey players is second to none.

Yves Heroux, Director of Hockey Operation

Yves has been the cornerstone of stability for the Red Bank Generals organization over the last 22 years in his role as Hockey Director since 2001. In 1983, he was drafted in the second round by the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League. Yves went on to play 15 years of professional hockey (NHL, AHL, IHL, Europe), scoring over 250 goals. Throughout his coaching career, Yves has coached seven Generals teams to the USA Hockey Nationals. Yves currently coaches our 15P and 14U teams.

Jack Callahan, Head Coach and General Manager

Jack spent one year playing at Quinnipiac University (NCAA Division 1, ECAC) before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (NCAA Division 3, WIAC) where he won a National Championship and earned First and Second team All-American honors. After graduation, Jack played professional hockey (France2, SPHL, FHL) for two seasons and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from American University. Jack currently coaches our 18U, 16U and 12U teams.

Brendan van Riemsdyk, Assistant Coach

Brendan, a USPHL alum of the Islanders Hockey Club, played his college hockey at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA Division 1, Hockey East) where he graduated in three years with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and one year at Northeastern University (NCAA Division 1, Hockey East) where he earned his Master’s degree in Sports Management. After college, Brendan played professional hockey (ECHL, SPHL) for three seasons, and he also has been running skills clinics and camps for various age groups during the summers. Brendan currently coaches our 16U, 12U and 10U teams.

Willie Brooks, Assistant Coach

Willie played his college hockey at Colgate University (NCAA Division 1, ECAC) where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Willie has been the General Manager of the Red Bank Armory since graduating in 2019.

Ryan Murphy, Skills Coach

Ryan Murphy is the Head Skills Coach for the Red Bank Generals. Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge and an extensive resume both as a player and a coach. As a player, Ryan was a part of the United States National Development Program before heading to Boston College to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level. An NHL draft pick to the Los Angeles Kings, Ryan played five years of professional hockey before embarking on his coaching career. Ryan has been a coach for the Hershey Bears (AHL), the Belleville Senators (AHL) and is currently the Skills Coordinator for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

Terry Jarkowsky, Goalie Coach

• USA Hockey Level 5 Coaches Education Program (CEP) Certification
• USA Hockey Certified Youth Hockey Director (NARCE)
• USA Hockey Goaltending Gold Level Certification
• USA Hockey Atlantic District Player Development Program Goaltending Development Coordinator
• USA Hockey Summer Festival Player Development Camp Goaltending Coach/Evaluator 2012-Present