Trenton Ironhawks Name Chuck Weber 1st Head Coach

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Trenton's newest professional hockey team has its first head coach, and he's coming home.

The Trenton Ironhawks of the ECHL named Chuck Weber as the club's first head coach and director of hockey operations Tuesday, bringing back a two-time Kelly Cup champion who got his coaching start in Trenton more than two decades ago.

Weber, 53, served as an assistant coach for the Trenton Titans under Peter Horachek in the 2001-02 season. He returns to the city having built one of the more decorated resumes in minor league hockey: a 233-167-51 record across six ECHL seasons, Kelly Cup playoff appearances in five of those seasons, and back-to-back Kelly Cup championships with the Cincinnati franchise in 2008 and 2010. He was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2008.

Weber also won championships coaching the IHL Orlando Solar Bears in 2001 and the Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League in England in 2015. Most recently as an assistant coach, his Great Britain D1A national team won gold at the D1A World Championships in both 2024 and 2026.

"We certainly had plenty of interest in the Trenton coaching position," said Ironhawks President Bob Ohrablo. "We selected Chuck Weber based on his experience and success at all levels of hockey, his commitment to our team's community efforts and his ability to coach young talent and provide them with an opportunity to move up."

Weber, who will relocate to the region with his wife Angie and their 10-year-old son, said the opportunity to return to Trenton was personal.

"My family and I are excited to return to Trenton where I have so many wonderful memories," Weber said. "I want to thank Bob Ohrablo and the Ironhawks organization for providing me with the opportunity to build a competitive, winning team for Trenton, Mercer County, and the surrounding region. In addition to winning on the ice, we are committed to having a strong presence throughout the community with our players and coaching staff."

The hiring drew praise from both the Ironhawks' NHL affiliate and local government. Chris Lamoriello, assistant general manager of the New York Islanders, called Weber "the perfect choice for the Ironhawks as they introduce professional hockey to their region." Mercer County Executive Dan Benson welcomed Weber back to the area, noting his history with the Titans.

"Winning starts with leadership, and Coach Chuck Weber has a proven track record of success," Benson said.

The Ironhawks are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and the AHL's Hamilton Hammers. The team will play home games at CURE Insurance Arena, the 10,000-seat multipurpose venue in Trenton that previously hosted the Trenton Titans (1999-2006 and 2011-2013) and Trenton Devils (2007-2011).

The Ironhawks' inaugural home opener is set for Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, against Adirondack. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. Season memberships, corporate partnerships and team merchandise are on sale at TrentonIronhawks.com.

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