Coaching Staff

This will be Adam Cheris' second year as New Trier Hockey Club Hockey Director and Head Coach for Varsity Green. In his first season, he lead NTG to SHL Champions, Illinois State Champions and Nationals Runner Up. Prior to his position as hockey director, Adam was with NT Hockey for 4 seasons as Head Coach for Gray and JV and Assistant Coach for Green, White and JV2. He led his JV team to the Illinois State Championship Elite 8 and Gray to an IHSHL League Championship.

Adam brings an abundance of coaching experience and “A culture that values dedication, integrity and teamwork as much as it does “winning.”

Growing up in Glencoe, Adam played youth hockey for the Winnetka Warriors. During his Sophomore year, he played New Trier Blue before heading to Avon Old Farms (Avon, CT) for prep school. He then played DIII for four years at Skidmore College, NY. Adam has been coaching youth/travel hockey for the past 14 years and currently, resides in Glencoe with his wife and children. 

This is Matt’s third year coaching New Trier Hockey and second year as Assistant Coach for NT Green. In previous years, he was Assistant Coach for both White and JV. Matt is very familiar with our local hockey programs. He grew up in Kenilworth and played his youth hockey with the Winnetka Warriors. Matt then played four years of New Trier Hockey. In 2014 and 2015, he played for NT Green when they won the State Championship. Matt graduated from the University of Illinois and is working in the Chicago area.

This is Brian’s fifth year coaching for the New Trier Hockey Club and his fourth year coaching New Trier Green. Brian was a member of the coaching staff that lead NT Green to the High School National Title Finals in 2021. He grew up in Wilmette and played youth hockey for the Wilmette Braves. Brian continued his hockey career at New Trier playing for two years on Green Varsity and winning a State Championship his senior year. He is a University of Illinois graduate and currently lives in Chicago.

The 2022-23 season marks Rob Malstrom’s 25th year with the New Trier Hockey Club. He has served as head coach for New Trier Blue, White, and JV teams. He has also coached at the Wilmette Braves and Winnetka Warriors organizations, including helping out with two of his own kids’ teams in Winnetka at the squirt and mite levels. Rob has coached Blue to two league titles in the IHSHL North Central division. While leading White, Rob’s teams made appearances in the Varsity White Division State Championship game six out of the eight years he coached them, including three state titles in 2005-06, 2014-15, and 2015-16. His one year coaching of the JV team resulted in a 2001-02 Scholastic Cup Championship.

As a player, Rob played youth hockey in Wilmette before skating three years on New Trier Green, where he won a State Championship his senior year at the old Chicago Stadium. He attended the University of Illinois and played four years on their ACHA Division I team. Rob lives in Northfield with his wife Theresa and their three children: Kennedy, Westley, and Charlotte.

This season is Mike’s 8th year coaching New Trier Blue. Previously, he spent five years coaching in the Glenview Stars organization. Mike grew up in Wilmette and played youth hockey with the Wilmette Braves before moving on to New Trier. He played one year on NT Blue and two years on NT Green, where he won a state championship in his senior year.

Mike attended Purdue University where he played four years on their ACHA club hockey team. He works at Allstate and lives in Northbrook with his wife, Samantha.

This is Carl's 6th year coaching New Trier Blue. Prior to NTHC, Carl spent three years coaching Bantam for the Wilmette Braves. He also coached PDL Elite Hockey tournament teams. After moving to Wilmette in 2001, Carl played for the Wilmette Braves and then four years on New Trier’s JV, White, and Blue teams. At New Trier, he won a Varsity White Division State Championship on a team coached by Rob Malstrom. Carl attended St. Lawrence University, NY and played Division 2 Rugby and Club Hockey. This past year, Carl moved back to Wilmette and was married to his lovely wife, Kendall. He enjoys walks with his bulldog, Elbow, playing golf and men’s league hockey. 

Jeremy is in his third season with New Trier Hockey and in his 6th season with Wilmette Hockey Association. Currently, he is head coach for both NT White and Wilmette Bantam 1. Previously, Jeremy coached NT Gray and Wilmette teams at the Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget levels. Jeremy helped establish the Midget program at Wilmette. For three seasons, Jeremy coached the Skokie Flyers. Before moving to Chicago, Jeremy coached ice and inline hockey in Colorado. Jeremy is a level 4 official and has been a referee for 24 seasons. He was selected to referee national Championships for the ACHA and USA Hockey and has travelled to Africa and Columbia to officiate international tournaments and to conduct training seminars for international referees.

Jeremy grew up in Detroit where he earned a scholarship to Detroit Country Day. He played club hockey while attending the University of Dubuque. Jeremy has a daughter attending Michigan State, a stepson at Emerson College and a son at DePaul Prep. Jeremy works in Energy Management where he handles National Accounts.

John is in his third season with the New Trier Hockey Club. In addition to coaching NT White, he is the Head Coach for the Wilmette Jr. Trevian CSDHL Bantam Prospects. Previously, John coached NT Gray and PeeWee, Squirt and Mites for the Lake Forest Winter Club. In 2019, he led the AUU Mites to a league championship and the Squirts to a NIHL State championship. At the Skokie Amateur Hockey Association, John coached the U16 Midget/Minor Elite and U18 Midgets. In 2018, he led the U18 Midgets to a NIHL Championship and a President’s Cup Championship. From 2010-18, John was coached the NWHL Midget Flyers to championship wins in 2013 and 2017 and a championship final in 2016. John is also a skills instructor and power skate coach.

Christian is in his second season coaching with the New Trier Hockey Club. He brings a great deal of experience coaching player skills and an abundance of experience as a player himself. Christian is a skills coach for Ford Hockey School and previously for EC Lauterbach youth teams in Germany. As a player, Christian’s played U18 AAA for Boston Advantage and in the NCDC Jr. Hockey League for the Jersey Hitmen and Portland Jr. Pirates. He attended and played for Indiana University where he was the All-Time leading goal scorer, second all-time in points and 2019 Male Athlete of the Year. After university, Christian played professional hockey from 2019-2020 for EC Lauterbach. Upon returning to the USA, he continued his academic career, obtained an MBA from DePaul University and scouts for hockey. 

Neil Keane is returning to the NTHC coaching staff after a handful of years away. He is a former Trevian himself and played for NT JV, NT White, & NT Blue all during his four years at New Trier (class of 2008). Growing up in Wilmette, Neil played his youth hockey for the Wilmette Braves (now Jr. Trevians) before transitioning into high school. After NT, Neil went on to play three years of Division II club hockey at the University of Iowa. After graduating he quickly linked up with current NT coach Robert Malstrom to see if he had any openings for coaching. Thankfully Rob gave him a shot and helped groom him as he transitioned from being a player and becoming more of a coach. He then went on to coach with his brother, Sean Keane, on NT Blue from 2014-2016 before taking a break from coaching. He is extremely pleased to be back at his home club and currently resides in Evanston w/ his Partner Emily. 

This is Kenny’s first year coaching for the New Trier Hockey Club, Coaching New Trier Gray. Previously, he spent two years coaching the Wilmette Braves at the squirt and mite levels. Kenny grew up in Wilmette and played youth hockey with the Wilmette Braves before moving on to New Trier. He played one year on NT JV, NT Blue, and NT Green where he won a state championship in his senior year. 

Kenny graduated from the University of Kansas with his BA in Economics and received his MBA from Lewis University. Currently he works in Northbrook and lives in Winnetka with his wife Caitlin and daughter Evelyn. 

This is Troy's first season coaching for the New Trier Hockey club but he has had a long coaching career for his age. He started teaching "learn to skate" classes, assisting on his father's mite and squirt teams and aiding the Winnetka Hockey Club with clinics at the age of 14. While in high school at New Trier, Troy also began working with Wilmette Hockey Club teaching in their skills clinics. He grew up playing for the Winnetka Hockey Club before playing on White and Blue at New Trier. Troy currently works at Home Ice in Kenilworth handling retail, team sales, and on ice skills instruction for the company.

This is Brent’s second year as a coach for New Trier Hockey. Previously, he coached for the Winnetka Warriors. Brent brings his continued experience as a private skills coach to New Trier Hockey. Brent’s player career stretched from the Winnetka Warriors, to three years in the Chicago Young American league and three years playing for New Trier Green. While playing for New Trier Green, Brent won the 2013 & 2014 State Championships. 

Brent graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019. Currently, Brent works and lives in the Chicagoland area.

This is Jack’s second season coaching with the New Trier Hockey Club. However, it is definitely not his first experience with New Trier Hockey. During his four years at New Trier, Jack played for NT White, Blue and Green. He helped lead Green to State Champions in 2016 & 2017 and was the MVP of the 2016 game. He was the 2017 Captain of NT Green and selected as an All State Player in 2016 & 2017. 

Jack grew up playing for the Winnetka Warriors. He split his childhood between the Winnetka Par 3 and the Winnetka Ice Rink. His youth hockey experience made for a natural fit as student coach with local summer skates and hockey camps. Jack attended the University of Denver and DePaul University. He currently resides in Winnetka.

This is Costa's first season coaching at NTHC but he is not new to the program. From Northfield, he played two years for New Trier Green and helped them win a state championship in his 2017 season. Costa graduated from the University of Illinois in 2022 and currently works as an analyst for Belmont Bank and Trust. He started skating when he was 3 years old and sill enjoys bing involved in the game. Costa is thrilled to be back at New Trier Hockey Club and share his wealth of hockey knowledge with the younger generation of NTHC players.

This is Oliver’s 3rd season as Goalie coach for New Trier Hockey Club. He has been coaching goalies since 2007 and previously, was Goaltending Director for the CSDHL Falcons Hockey Association. In his four seasons as Director, he helped moved 19 goalies to Tier 1, Prep and Juniors as well as two goalies to the Chicago Brick team. As a Goalie Coach, Oliver helped the Falcon’s win their first USA Hockey National Championship and finish as finalist two other years. He also helped lead the Chicago Mission to Nationals Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2022.

Oliver obtained a Bachelor or Science from the University of Utah where he played four years of club hockey and was also the back-up goalie for the ECHL Utah Grizzlies. Currently, Oliver serves as an emergency backup for the Chicago Blackhawks. When not at the rink, Oliver enjoys playing soccer and attending concerts. Currently, Oliver resides in the Chicagoland area.