meet our staff
The people who keep the Minutemen moving, on and off the ice.
Behind every successful season is a team of dedicated staff who make sure our players, families, and coaches have the support they need.
OUR Minutemen
LEADERSHIP TEAM
John Geverd
Rink Owner, VFMM and VFC Program Director, Minutemen Head Coach
John grew up in the Philadelphia area and began his hockey journey with the Glaciers, playing two years at the Mite level and one year as a Squirt before moving on to Tier 1 hockey with the Little Flyers, New Jersey Rockets, and Valley Forge Minutemen.
He attended LaSalle College High School for one year, playing under renowned coach Wally Muehlbronner, before transferring to Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts—part of the elite Independent School League (ISL). At Lawrence, John was a standout athlete in hockey, football, and lacrosse, serving as captain of all three teams his senior year.
Following high school, John played junior hockey with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, helping the team capture the EJHL League Championship. He then continued his career at Babson College, where he had an exceptional four-year run. John became only the 13th player in Babson history to score 50 career goals and served as team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. During his junior year, he led the team to a remarkable ECAC East league championship run and secured the school’s first NCAA tournament bid since the early 1990s.
After college, John spent a year and a half playing professionally in the minor leagues (A and AA levels), suiting up for the Richmond Renegades, Reading Royals, Dayton Bombers, and Evansville Icemen.
Following his playing career, John returned to the game he loves through coaching. He began with the Minutemen, leading the 2000 Squirt Major and 1996 Bantam Major teams. He later coached the 2004, 2006 and 2010 birth year teams. The 2004 team won multiple league and district championships, with six players going on to play or commit to Division 1 college hockey. His 2006 team has consistently been a district and playoff contender, producing two Division 1-committed players. John also serves as a coach for the Atlantic District Player Development Program, helping to shape the next generation of elite talent.
John’s Coaching Philosophy:
Hockey should be fun; the fun part of hockey to coach John is lining up and competing against an opponent. Our practices are designed to work on each individual’s skills and create an environment where the kids are pushed to compete in practice against one another and they are excited to show up to the rink each day.
John has learned a lot about how coaching is so much more than knowing the game, it is building relationships with the players and learning to communicate with each player as they are all very different. John believes team success comes from individual improvement combined with the whole team buying in to achieving the same goals.
Toni Porkka
VFMM Hockey Director
Toni grew up in Rauma, Finland, where he began skating and playing hockey at just two years old. A standout from an early age, he captained his Bantam Major team to a Finnish National Championship with Lukko Rauma. His talent was recognized nationally when he was named Best Defenseman and selected to the All-Star team at the U16 Team Finland combine.
Toni represented Team Finland at the U16, U17, U18, and U20 levels, and competed in the 1990 World Junior Championships, where Finland finished fourth. Remarkably, he became the oldest rookie ever to play for the Finnish Men’s National Team at age 32.
He began his professional career during his senior year of high school, debuting with Lukko in the Finnish Elite League. In 1990, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. Over an 18-year professional career, Toni served as captain or assistant captain for 10 seasons. He capped off his playing career by winning the German Championship with the Cologne Sharks in 2002.
Professional Career
- 9 years in Finnish Elite League
- 6 years in DEL Germany
- 3 years in North America AHL
Coaching Experience
- 06-07 Lukko, Rauma
- 07-08 MM Peewee Major
- 08-09 MM Bantam Minor, Reading Royals Squirt AA
- 09-10 MM Squirt Major, MM Bantam Major
- 10-11 MM Peewee Minor, MM U16 National
- 11-12 MM Peewee Major, MM U16 National
- 12-13 MM Bantam Minor, MM U18
- 13-14 MM Squirt Major, MM Bantam Major
- 14-15 MM PeeWee Minor, MM 16 American
- 15-16 MM PeeWee Major, MM 16 National
Head instructor of multiple hockey skill development camps and clinics. Level 4 coach.
Coaching Philosophy
Toni’s coaching philosophy blends the strengths of European and North American development systems to help players grow in a fast-paced, competitive environment. He emphasizes strong skill development through high-tempo training, while ensuring systems and expectations remain age-appropriate at every level. His approach focuses on teamwork, disciplined and active defensive play, creative offensive systems, and the habits that support long-term success—attitude, work ethic, commitment, and respect for the game.
Joanne Yates-Trojansky
Rink Manager
Joanne brings a lifelong connection to the ice and a deep understanding of rink operations to her role at Oaks Center Ice. She began skating at age four and spent 15 years competing in singles and pairs, training in Canada at the Preston Figure Skating Club and Champions Training Center under the direction of Kerry Leitch.
After moving to Pennsylvania in 2008, Joanne became involved at Oaks Center Ice and the hockey programs, where she quickly recognized the need for a dedicated figure skating presence. She went on to help establish the Center Ice Figure Skating Club and served on its Board of Directors as Vice President through July 2023.
Today, Joanne supports families, coaches, and staff through her administrative role, helping ensure communication, registration, and day-to-day operations run smoothly. Her long history in the sport gives her a unique perspective and a strong appreciation for the needs of both athletes and families.
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