Veteran NAHL Coach Brings Winning Pedigree to Coastal Bend
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays are proud to announce the hiring of Nick Skerlick as the organization’s new Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations.
“We are thrilled to have Nick join us as our new Head Coach. Nick is a coach that players want to play for—one who sets up the culture in the locker room that our ownership group is looking for and one who wants to win each year,” said CEO Steve Donner. “Nick will bring a whole new level of player recruitment to Corpus Christi, and we should be primed to have a well-balanced team for the long term under his tenure.”
Skerlick joins the IceRays following three successful seasons as Head Coach of the Maine Nordiques, where he established himself as one of the rising leaders in junior hockey. Over the past eight years, Skerlick has built an impressive coaching résumé with both the Nordiques and New Jersey Jr. Titans organizations, developing players and consistently producing winning teams.
Under Skerlick’s leadership:
- Teams qualified for the NAHL Playoffs in all three seasons
- Posted a 116–67–18 record (.621 winning percentage)
- Earned three consecutive selections to the NAHL Top Prospects (All-Star Event)
- Reached two East Division Final appearances
- Coached teams to multiple top 10 finishes at the 18U level
- Led a team to a USA Hockey Nationals appearance, finishing No. 5 in the United States
“Corpus Christi is a destination often spoken about in the hockey world,” said Skerlick. “The hockey community there should be proud of the experience and support it has provided for decades.”
“I find it humbling that players have the opportunity to move to such an incredible market and succeed both on and off the ice with the community’s support and the team’s resources,” he added.
A former NCAA Division III player with three years of experience at Franklin Pierce and Lebanon Valley, Skerlick transitioned quickly into coaching and has since made a significant impact at the junior level. He became the youngest coach in the NAHL when he was named by the Nordiques in 2023. In that same season, he also became the youngest head coach in league history to lead his team to a playoff berth.
“To the IceRays fans and the city of Corpus Christi, I cannot make guarantees, but I can promise that our hockey staff, IceRays players, my significant other and I, along with the continued strong ownership of the IceRays, will push harder than ever, day in and day out, so that the Corpus Christi IceRays are a consistent championship contender each and every season.”
“I am excited and grateful for this opportunity and what the future holds for hockey in the Coastal Bend.”
Skerlick will immediately assume his duties as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations as the IceRays prepare for the upcoming NAHL season.
COO George Manias added, “IceRays fans, as the saying goes—and this certainly rings true for us—it’s a great day for hockey in Corpus Christi. The addition of Nick to our organization will shake up our division and our place within the league. Nick is a guy cut from the same cloth as what we want the makeup of our team to be: hardworking, gritty, and relentless. Nick will recruit, mentor, coach, develop, and win a lot of hockey games for us. Players play hard for him and want to play for him. He will certainly make Corpus Christi the place to play in the NAHL. We welcome Nick and his significant other, Jessica, to the market and cannot wait for our fans to see what he will do for this organization starting this upcoming season.”
About Corpus Christi IceRays: The Corpus Christi IceRays, a member of the North American Hockey League playing out of the Hilliard Center in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. For more information or for all your ticketing needs, contact the IceRays Front Office at (361)-814-PUCK or visit www.GoIceRays.com . You can also follow the team through their social media platforms: Facebook @goicerays, Instagram @iceraysnahl, and Twitter @iceraysnahl
About North American Hockey League: Celebrating its 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 20 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center
Hilliard Center is Corpus Christi’s premier entertainment and event complex, proudly owned by the City of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group. Named in partnership with Hilliard Law, a firm dedicated to service and community, the waterfront venue features a state-of-the-art arena, the historic Selena Auditorium, and a versatile convention center overlooking the scenic Corpus Christi Bay. With adaptable spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and premium food and beverage offerings, Hilliard Center is designed to deliver exceptional experiences as South Texas’ home for live entertainment, conventions, and community gatherings.
Visit HilliardCenter.com and follow the Hilliard Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest news and event updates.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
