St. Joseph, Metuchen
Coach
Pete Kolodney is the founder of the Saint Joseph Metuchen Ice Hockey Program. The program was founded in 1986. Pete served as Head Coach of the Varsity Program for 21 years (1986–2007). After competing for two years as an independent, Saint Joseph joined the NJIHL American Conference A Division. In that third season, they reached the Handchen Cup Championship Game. Two years later, in just their fifth season (1990–1991), they captured the Handchen Cup Championship.
The program was also the very first to earn successive first-place finishes while advancing to a higher division (NJIHL American A 1990–91 and then NJIHL National B 1991–92). The program then ascended to the NJIHL National Conference A Division (now known as the Gordon Conference).
As Varsity Head Coach, Pete achieved a record of 228–208–35, which included these additional accomplishments: Handchen Cup Finalist (2005–06); seven (7) George T. Cron Tournament championships; eight times ranked in the Star-Ledger Top 20 (#12 highest ranking); two NHL draft picks (Christian Jensen, John Carlson); three NCAA Division I players; five NCAA Division III players; and numerous ACHA players.
Pete was inducted into the Saint Joseph Metuchen Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. He was named NJSCA/NFHS Coach of the Year for the 2001–02 season. He expanded the program to include a Junior Varsity team starting in the 1990–91 season. Three of his former players are in the Saint Joseph Metuchen Athletics Hall of Fame.
After the 2006–2007 season, Pete voluntarily stepped down and handed the Varsity Head Coach responsibilities to his assistant, Ryan Carter. He then took on the role of Assistant Coach with a focus on hockey operations.
Pete founded the “Faceoff Circle of Excellence” (the Saint Joseph Ice Hockey Hall of Fame) and presided over its first induction on December 4, 2024, honoring Daren Helmold ’90, Ryan Carter ’91, Sean Singleton ’91, and Shawn Breen ’92. He continues with the program to this day (40 years in all).
