About ELEV802 NEW JERSEY
Our Mission
ELEV802 NEW JERSEY exists for one reason: to constantly challenge and lead individuals to achieve the highest level of performance on and off the ice. We provide a safe environment for players to train and learn from professional players and coaches. Our goal is to help as many players in the New Jersey area as possible by teaming up with other former professional players and staff.
ELEV802 NEW JERSEY Team
Rem Vanderbeek is a lifelong hockey player and coach with deep roots in New Jersey hockey.
A proud product of the New Jersey Rockets, he was part of the program’s last USA Hockey National Championship team. He continued his development at Seton Hall Prep before playing four years of Division I hockey at Providence College in the highly competitive Hockey East.
With over 15 years of coaching experience, Rem has worked with every age group from Mites to college, including key roles with the NJ Rockets and Richmond Thunder. From 2008–2015,
he worked closely alongside longtime friend and mentor Jon Sorg as part of the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils youth development program, helping train and coach top-tier players
at the team’s official practice facility. The two also co-owned the Jersey Rockz, building a powerhouse summer and tournament program that developed and showcased elite-level talent.
Rem currently serves as an assistant coach for the Rockets’ NCDC team and head coach of their
U15 AA squad—bringing high energy, attention to detail, and a player-first approach to every practice and game.
Off the ice, Rem’s other passion is golf. He’s still waiting on his PGA Tour call-up… but for now,
he’s sticking to winning faceoffs and losing golf balls.
Jon Sorg is a veteran of the game with over 30 years of elite hockey experience as a player, coach, and mentor. A standout defenseman at the University of Vermont from ’93–’97,
he helped lead the Catamounts to the 1996 Frozen Four and was voted ECAC’s Best Defensive Defenseman his senior year. Earlier in his playing career, he was named the 1992 Hockey Night in Boston MVP, earned New England Prep All-American honors at Canterbury in 1993, and made three consecutive USA Hockey National Championship appearances at the bantam and junior levels.
After graduating from UVM in 1997, Jon and fellow teammate, and future Hall of Famer, Martin St. Louis put their business school plan into action, founding the Martin St. Louis All-American Hockey School. From 1997 to 2007, they served as owners and head instructors, mentoring future stars including “Swaggy P” and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Amanda Pelkey.
In 2008, Jon was hired by the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils to serve as
General Manager of their official practice facility and Director of Youth Hockey Operations. Since then, he’s coached every level with the NJ Rockets - Mites through Juniors - developing countless players who’ve advanced to Division I and professional hockey.
When he's not on the ice, Jon’s out hunting, fishing, or farming—and he's still trying to get his SAG card after he and Rem stunt-coordinated a Jimmy Fallon Tonight Show hockey skit.
One take, no pads.
Karlis Cukste is a high-level defenseman whose playing career has taken him across the globe. Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2015, he went on to play four years of Division I hockey at Quinnipiac University, anchoring the blue line with his strong hockey IQ and physical presence.
Following college, Karlis played professionally for four seasons, with stops in the AHL, KHL, Swedish Hockey League, and Czech Extraliga. He won back-to-back championships in Europe in 2023 and 2024 and played a key role for the Latvian National Team, helping them earn a historic bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship—the first in the country's history.
While he’s competed at the highest levels internationally, it’s at ELEV802 where Karlis truly discovered his passion for coaching. He thrives on developing the next generation of hockey talent, bringing his global experience and love for the game to every session. Off the ice, Karlis enjoys spending time with his daughter and, when there’s a quiet moment, squeezing in the occasional video game—though coaching and parenting keep his schedule pretty full.
Pete Lenes
Founder
One of the most exciting players to watch wherever he played, Peter is fresh off of a 10 year professional hockey career having played 3 seasons between the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League, where he was an ECHL All-Star. Peter then enjoyed a great career playing the following 7 seasons in both Denmark and Austria.
Prior to his professional career, Peter was one of the first Vermonters ever selected to the US Under-16 Team to represent the USA at the World Championships. Peter followed that up with 1 season in the USHL and 4 seasons at the University of Vermont ‘05-09’ where he quickly became a fan favorite. He earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week Honors 3 times as a freshman, led the team in goals as a junior, and was a Hobey Baker candidate his senior season while being selected to the 2009 College Hockey All-Skills Team. He also helped the Catamounts reach their first NCAA Frozen Four since the Martin St. Louis/Eric Perrin era. To cap off his college career, Peter was voted to the Hockey East Fan Favorite All Decade Team.
Peter has built a following with his individualized hockey training during his off-seasons every summer in Vermont, and looks to continue building on that at ELEV802. He brings a high energy for every client, and is extremely excited to pass down his knowledge and love for the game to the next generation of young hockey players.
