NJ’s New Pro Hockey Team Taps Princeton Talent For Inaugural Roster

PRINCETON, NJ — The Trenton Ironhawks, the city's newest professional hockey team, announced their first five signings in franchise history on the steps of the New Jersey State House Thursday alongside Gov. Mikie Sherrill, and two of the players have strong ties to Princeton.

Defenseman Luke Antonacci is a Princeton native, while defenseman Nick Carabin played his NCAA career in part at Princeton University. Both are among the Ironhawks' inaugural group, joining John Gelatt of Middletown, Anthony Firriolo of Towaco and Mikey Colella of Turnersville.

The team, part of the ECHL, will play its first home game at CURE Insurance Arena on Saturday, Oct. 24, against the Adirondack Thunder, the New Jersey Devils' ECHL affiliate.

Antonacci, 23, returns home after the 2025-26 season, during which he played 15 games for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. Before turning professional, he played 127 NCAA games for the University of Maine and Lake Superior State University, recording five goals and 16 assists in three seasons with Maine. He also helped the Sioux City Musketeers win the 2022 Clark Cup in the United States Hockey League. Antonacci came up through the Mercer Chiefs youth program.

Carabin, 26, played five NCAA seasons split between Princeton University and the University of Connecticut. During his time at Princeton, he appeared in 80 games, recording six goals and 23 assists. He finished his collegiate career at UConn in 2024-25 with three goals and six assists in 39 games. A Mahwah native, Carabin played 52 ECHL games last season between the Cincinnati Cyclones and Iowa Heartlanders, recording three goals and 11 assists. He played his youth hockey with the North Jersey Avalanche.

"I'm thrilled to have the Governor and so many of our community leaders here as we welcome these five Jersey natives to Trenton," Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said. "Today's signing reflects the Ironhawks' commitment to be a truly local team that embodies our community, and strengthens our Capital City, Mercer County, and our region."

"When we created the Ironhawks, we knew we wanted to have a strong Jersey flavor to this team, and with the five new members being introduced today, we're excited to have accomplished that," Ironhawks President Bob Ohrablo said. "We're now less than two months away from Opening Night, and we couldn't be more excited to drop the puck."

"Youth hockey is thriving in New Jersey and this is an example of its growth," Head Coach Chuck Weber said. "I know these five young men are excited to compete for a spot on the Ironhawks' inaugural roster."

Season ticket deposits are available now. Single-game ticket information is expected to be announced after Labor Day.

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