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Houli named assistant open coach for 2022 Maccabiah Games

By Anthony Di Paolo, 07/24/20, 1:45PM EDT

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87's head coach will head to Israel in 2022 to represent his country and faith

The New Jersey 87's are excited to announce that Adam Houli will serve as an assistant coach for the Open Team USA Men's ice hockey team in the 2022 Maccabiah Games. 

Houli, who is entering his fourth season as head coach and co-owner of the 87's, talks about the honor of representing both his country and his faith by joining the coaching staff.

"It is an honor to be named to Team USA Men’s Ice Hockey staff for the 21st Maccabi Games. Being able to return to Israel representing Team USA behind the bench is an amazing feeling, having so many Jewish athletes from around the world come together to compete is life changing," he said.

Maccabi USA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to perpetuate an American Jewish community through athletic, educational and cultural programs. They are the sponsor for the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, which started in 1932.

Ice hockey was played in the 1997 Maccabiah Games, and then re-introduced in 2013. In 2009, Houli--who was playing for Trinity College at the time--had an opportunity to represent Team USA in the Friendship Games. Team USA won the gold medal in that event, but Houli said his pride in the Friendship Games went far beyond the standings.

"When I was a player for Team USA in the Friendship Games I felt a tremendous amount of pride for putting on my jersey even more so when I realized where I was playing," Houli said. "Being able to represent both my national and religious pride is an amazing feeling. I look forward to working with the staff and committee at Maccabi USA, recruiting, coaching and sharing in their experience of a lifetime."

Houli will be working alongside the Open Team USA head coach Michael Gershon. Also a New Jersey native, Gershon was recently named as the coach for the NCAA Division III Chatham Cougars and was previously an assistant coach for Robert Morris University's Division I ice hockey team.