BRICK – The Ice Palace will be hosting a new minor league hockey team this year.
The Garden State Gamblers, a new NA3HL ice hockey team, will play their inaugural season home games at the Ice Palace, located at 197 Chambers Bridge Road.
“The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced that its Board of Governors has approved the membership of the Garden State Gamblers, with the team set to begin play in the 2026-27 season,” according to a press release on na3hl.com.
The new team also brings some renovations to the rink, which has long been a symbol of youth and teen ice hockey and ice skating in Ocean County. According to a press release, “It will feature brand-new locker rooms, a gym, and an off-ice training area. The Gamblers will be directly affiliated with the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League and will provide opportunities for players to advance to the next level through the New Jersey Titans pipeline,” said Frank Gerbasi, head coach of the Gamblers.
According to the Gamblers’ press release, head coach Gerbasi said he is most excited to coach younger players in a sport many New Jersey fans love. “The biggest thing for me at this level of hockey is play development. The best part about coaching for me is helping kids reach their goals and reach where they want to be.”
This year’s season for the Gamblers will run from September 17 until March 12, 2027. The Gamblers are “owned and operated in direct affiliation with the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League,” according to the website.
The New Jersey Titans, who will play the Gamblers on October 24 and 28, have been playing hockey in Middletown for the past 28 years. Other teams the Gamblers will play throughout the year include the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings, the Long Beach Sharks, and the Norwich Sea Captains.
According to the Gamblers’ press release, “The NA3HL is one of only three USA Hockey-sanctioned Junior leagues and serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure, and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes. The NA3HL advances more players to the NAHL, NCAA, and ACHA than any other junior league of its kind.”
For hockey fans, watching a junior player rise through the ranks is exciting, and with a new team so close to the Brick area, fans may get a chance to watch a future NHL player before they reach prime time.
Past New Jersey Titans alumni include Stanley Cup Champion Anthony Stolarz, who won the Cup with the Florida Panthers as their backup goaltender in 2024. Stolarz now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs and has Jersey hockey roots that grow deep. Stolarz grew up in Jackson and was drafted 45th overall in 2012 by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL draft.
The Gamblers aren’t the only new hockey team in Jersey. This season kicks off the Trenton Ironhawks’ inaugural season. Playing in the ECHL, East Coast Hockey League, the Ironhawks will be the first team to play in Trenton since the old Trenton Titans ended their run in 2013.
Youth Teams Continue
Other teams will be utilizing the Ice Palace for games this season. The Brick Hockey Club will play games at the arena and hold training classes for future hockey stars. Kids ages 5 to 18 are invited to play. According to the Brick Hockey Club’s website, the “Brick Hockey Club continues to be one of the most recognized and successful Tier 2 Organizations in America. Our players have dominated the high school scene year after year.”
Brick has a long tradition of coaching players to further their ice hockey aspirations. “Prep school coaches continue to seek the talents of our players. We currently have players playing at the Division 1, 2 and 3 college levels, in Junior Hockey, and in the NHL,” according to the Brick Hockey Club website.
Both high schools in Brick also use the Ice Palace for their home games. The Brick Dragons and the Brick Mustangs will call the rink home for the year, with plenty of local fans and past Brick ice hockey players coming to support the next generation of players.
The Ice Palace has been hosting hockey teams and figure skating for decades. Currently, they hold hockey clinics for all ages through November 19. Players interested in this clinic should have completed the Learn to Skate program at the Ice Palace before joining the Fall Learn to Play Hockey clinic.
Open hockey is also featured at the Ice Palace throughout the year. On October 31, first responders are invited to play open hockey. Public skating is available at the rink on Fridays and Saturdays during October. Skate rentals and full ice hockey equipment are available in limited quantities for those interested in trying a new sport. You can also rent the rink for birthday parties and other events in advance.
For a full list of events, clinics, ticket sales, and games, visit theicepalace.net. To follow the Garden State Gamblers’ stats and upcoming home games at the Ice Palace, visit na3hl.com/teams
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