Staff

Scott Brand

President/General Manager

What can we say about Scott Brand that he hasn’t already said about himself. Brand is a product of amateur hockey having played youth hockey in Michigan, Iowa, Texas, and Illinois.

After a “career” (not a very good one either) in Junior hockey, he spent eight seasons as an on-ice official in the United States Hockey League, International Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.

After leaving the ice, he held the position of Vice-President and General Manager of the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League from 1992-96 where he guided the team to set record crowds, corporate sponsorship and the building of a new arena. He also founded the Waterloo Bucks, the 1st expansion team in the Northwoods College Baseball League in 1995 and was named executive of the year. In May of 1996, he was named the Vice-President of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, where he increased attendance for two seasons in a row.

In 1998, and for the next 14 seasons, he guided USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program along with being the Director of Hockey Operations with the USHL. Under his direction, 15 officials advanced to sign National Hockey League contracts (including Cottonmouths player Peter McDougall) and over 250 into minor professional & college hockey.

He is also the inventor of the icing rule that is used by every major hockey league in the world. In 2008 Brand received the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Hockey League and in 2012 he was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.

2013 saw Brand hired by the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, the team won the 2014-15 Anderson Cup Championship and he directed 22 of the team’s top 25 crowds, in 2015 the team was sold and Brand returned home to his family farm in St. Louis, MI, where he helped start a local farmers market and was named Vice President of Operations for Pure Pro Wrestling, a Michigan based sports entertainment promotion.

In 2016, Brand was lured back into hockey and was named the President & General Manager of the new Carolina Thunderbirds. Brand set attendance and corporate sponsorships records in Winston-Salem, along with securing that teams longevity in the community. During the 2018-19 season that team would go on to winning a record 24 games in a row, the regular season championship and the playoff championship along with selling out the building a record 13 times.

In June of 2019, he was hired as to the position of President/General Manager of the Columbus River Dragons.

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Jerome Bechard

Head Coach

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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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Orrin Hergott

Assistant Coach

Hergott is a Humboldt, SK native and former Cottonmouth of nine seasons. He is the only cottonmouth to skate in both the 2005 and 2012 championship seasons.

Hergott's playing career ended with him captaining the Cottonmouths in the 2012-13 season.

After his playing career finished he served as an assistant coach both with the Cottonmouths and Auburn University club hockey prior to joining the River Dragons.

Hergott is also the Hockey Director for Columbus' Youth Hockey program.

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Jay Croop

Vice President of Corporation Partnerships

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Jay Croop, a native of Waunakee, Wisconsin, played high school hockey for the Waunakee Warriors. After high school, he moved to Richmond, Virginia to play junior or the Richmond Generals where they won back to back division titles and one league championship his last year with them. Following juniors, Jay went out west to play for the Williston State College Tetons, where they played for a NJCAA national championship. Jay has played five years of professional hockey in the FPHL and won his first professional championship last year with the Carolina Thunderbirds.

Jay has one older brother, Jared, and three younger sisters, Jocelynn, Taylor, and Ava. Jay’s sister, Taylor, is a two time national champion for Auburn University’s Equestrian team.

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Diego Wilson

Vice President of Corporate Partnerships/Special Projects

Diego moved down to Columbus, from Lansing, Michigan where he grew up playing hockey. His career took him all across the country from Junior hockey in Richmond, Virginia to Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. It has also allowed him the opportunity to earn his B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His continued love for the game has now led him to the River Dragons where he will be working in the front office.

Diego is the youngest of four with two older brothers, Tony & Michael, and one older sister Kristal. He is also the proud Uncle of his niece Raquel.

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Kylee Winnett

Vice President of Merchandising

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Kylee is originally from New Hampshire and recently graduated from High Point University in North Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration.

She was a competitive cheerleader for nearly a decade, earning 2 silver medals at the Cheerleading World Championship. While some might think that cheerleaders prefer to spectate from the sidelines, Kylee can’t wait for a front row seat to the action that lies ahead for the River Dragons this season!

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Matt Kaplan

Vice President of Game Night Operations & Corporate Partnerships

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Matt Kaplan, is a native of Providence Rhode Island. He received his B.A. in Sports Management from High Point University. Working with the Carolina Thunderbirds last year, Matt assisted with Game Day Operations as well as Special Projects gaining experience that helped translate into his position for the River Dragons.

Matt is excited for year two of his professional career in Columbus, working with the community, and getting hockey back to where it once was.

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Zak DeBeaussaert

Vice President of Communications/Play-by-play Announcer

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Zak is a Shelby Twp., Michigan native and reigning Broadcaster of the Year in the FPHL with the Carolina Thunderbirds last season. Prior to working in professional hockey, he was a traffic reporter, producer and play-by-play man for local radio in Lansing, Michigan. He got his start doing play-by-play back in college and the fire has stayed with him ever since. He is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and has been involved in the sport of hockey in some way as a player, referee, broadcaster and/or administrator for over 12 years.

Aaron Knowles

Vice President of Business Specialties

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Aaron was born in Prince George, BC and comes to the River Dragons after a long career in both the US Army, and Fire/EMS. As a combat veteran, Aaron devotes his free time heading up the Georgia Warriors Disabled Veteran Hockey Program.

An amazingly mediocre goaltender since childhood, he has grown up playing hockey in British Columbia, Canada, Phoenix, AZ and Anchorage, AK. Aaron now calls Smiths Station, AL home and looks forward to many great seasons of River Dragon hockey to come!

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Shannon Rutledge

Vice President of Entertainment Services

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Shannon was born and raised in Chicago, IL and earned her B.A. in marketing from Aurora University. Her free time is spent exploring the Columbus area with her two dogs, and putting her creative brain to work renovating a 90s Winnebago motor home.

Shannon has lived in multiple states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, Florida, and now Georgia by way of her husband’s hockey career. She has a love for the game and is excited to be a part of the River Dragons team!

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