Championship Coach will remain Owner and General Manager of 87’s
WALL, NJ — The New Jersey 87’s of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) have announced that Championship Head Coach Adam Houli has accepted the Head Coaching position with the North American Hockey League’s Johnstown Tomahawks.
Houli, a co-founder of the 87’s, leaves a legacy of unprecedented success at the EHL level, including two league championships and a commitment to player development.
Adam Houli has been the head coach for the entire seven-year existence of the EHL program and also coached the initial EHL Premier team. He co-founded the New Jersey 87’s with Matthew Kiernan for the 2017-18 season at the EHL Premier level, with the EHL team being added the following year for the 2018-19 season.
Under his leadership, the EHL team amassed a record of 215-76-22, with a combined 448 wins between both the EHL and EHLP teams. His tenure includes three Frozen Finals appearances, in which the team captured two EHL Championships, including this past season. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, Houli was named EHL Coach of the Year for the 2020-21 season. A testament to the program’s focus on player advancement, Houli averaged 11 NCAA commitments each year.
While stepping aside as head coach, Houli will remain a co-owner and General Manager of the New Jersey 87’s, where he will continue to play a vital role in building the team.
“The continued success of the NJ 87s is in great hands,” Houli stated. “I will remain in a GM role while Matt will take over as head coach of the EHL team. Cam Pape will remain as head coach of the Premier team while serving as an EHL assistant coach. Darius Radziszewski will step in as associate head coach with the EHL squad. This staff is more than prepared for the challenges ahead—they are excellent at their craft, fully aligned with the culture we’ve built, and are committed to pushing the program forward. The future of the 87s is incredibly bright.”
Co-owner and Associate Head Coach Matthew Kiernan praised his longtime partner saying, “Adam helped build an incredible program that placed player development and player advancement at the forefront of everything we did, as exemplified by the hashtag 87way. I cannot think of a better person to partner with to start a junior hockey franchise, or a better person to bring that same mindset and energy to a great organization like the Johnstown Tomahawks.”
At the league level, the move is a significant indicator of the EHL’s quality of coaching and development.
EHL Commissioner Neil Ravin commented, “Adam Houli has been an integral part of the EHL’s success, being a vocal leader for the league and the New Jersey 87’s. While we’re sad to see him go, his move to the NAHL’s Johnstown Tomahawks is a testament to his dedication and coaching skills, and shows the talent development that happens within our league. We wish him all the best in this exciting new chapter of his coaching career and look forward to seeing the continued impact of EHL alumni and coaches at higher levels of hockey.”
The New Jersey 87’s organization looks forward to building upon the strong foundation laid by Houli as they continue their tradition of excellence in the EHL.