Staff

Jerome Bechard

Head Coach, Alternate Governor

When you hear the name Jerome Bechard, you might immediately think, “tough Columbus Hockey." Jerome was the 115th overall pick in the sixth round of the NHL draft by the Hartford Whalers. He signed with the LA Kings and played two years with their farm team in New Haven, Connecticut. Jerome’s hockey career took him to the Birmingham Bulls for four years before spending the next twenty-one years in Columbus as a player and coach.

After the Cottonmouths franchise dissolved, Jerome’s love for Columbus and his desire to serve people, led him to a career in real estate and he joined Coldwell Banker in 2017.

Jerome and his wife Rhonda have two daughters Alex, a graduate of the University of Georgia and Kylie who attends and plays soccer at Auburn University.

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Jeff Croop

Ignite Sports COO, Governor and Interim General Manager

Justin MacDonald

Assistant Coach, Skills Director

Justin MacDonald has consistently demonstrated himself to be one of the most skilled players of the current era, capturing three league championships and four league MVP awards in his career.

Now, he brings that on-ice success to coaching as well. In addition to helping current River Dragons players develop their hockey skills, MacDonald will also bring his hockey academy instruction to players in the Columbus Area as well through private instruction and clinics available through his CTG Hockey Training program. Teams and programs MacDonald has worked with include the Oshawa Lady Generals, Clarington Flames, Markham Islanders, Whitby Wildcats, Clarington Toros and Oshawa Generals.

MacDonald’s career honors:

Championships (3): 2013 (SPHL), 2015 (FHL/FPHL), 2022 (FPHL)

MVPs (4): 2015 (FHL/FPHL), 2022 (FPHL), 2023 (SPHL), 2024 (PFHL)

2014-15: FPHL Most Goals (46), MVP

2018-19: ECHL Player of the Week (Feb. 4 - Feb. 10)

2021-22: FPHL Most Goals (60), Most Points (117), Best Plus/Minus (+87), FPHL First Team All-Star, FPHL Forwards of the Year selection, MVP

2022-23: SPHL Most Goals (34), Most Assists (45), Most Points (79), First Team All-Star, MVP

2023-24: FPHL Most Goals (45), Most Assists (72), Most Points (117), Best Plus/Minus (+69). Tied his career high in points, set a career high in assists.

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