About Us

Our Mission

To promote the personal character and athletic development of those players who wish to excel at the highest level of hockey competition. To enhance player development by providing professional hockey education and physical training. To provide experienced coaches and trainers to assist players in reaching their highest level. To assist and promote player advancement to the β€œnext” level for each athlete. To seek educational opportunities for the student athlete and to aid them in those opportunities. To build interest in hockey through fostering community spirit and involvement. To develop our players both on and off the ice and advance them to NAHL, USHL, NCAA and professional levels.

College Tours 2024-2025

We believe that showing our players different colleges over the course of the season helps them get an idea of what they may like or dislike. That’s what junior hockey is all about. It’s helping prepare them for when they have to make that college decision and that they are confident in their decision.

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Northland College

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Bethel University

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Hamline University

Western Michigan University

Saint John's University MN

Augsburg University

Saint Olaf College

Coaching Staff

PAUL PECHMANN - GM/HEAD COACH

Coach Pechmann is married to his wife Renee, an oncology nurse, and has four children, Noelle, Paul, Ciera and Zachary, and one granddaughter, McKenna. Coach Paul played hockey at South Kent Prep School and then for the NCAA UCONN Huskies in college. He has been coaching for over 17 years and has helped numerous players reach their goal of playing college hockey in the NCAA and ACHA. Coach Paul is also an NCDC and NAHL scout for several teams. He brings a wealth of coaching and life experience with him to the Riverkings Hockey Club where he will continue to lead the charge of the winning Riverkings legacy and more importantly, the legacy of helping develop young men in preparation for college and life leadership. Coach Pechmann has a large network of college coaches that he has assembled throughout his years in youth, junior and college hockey that he will leverage to help incoming Riverkings hockey players and assist them in reaching the next level.

DEREK PUTTICK - ASSISTANT COACH

A native of Strathmore, Alberta, Canada, Derek has been involved in hockey for over forty years in a number of roles: player, coach, and manager at the Junior A, B, Midget AAA and AA levels, scout (Junior A), mentor, minor hockey board member, and hockey school instructor. Having worked in Canada, Australia and Latvia. He has enjoyed a number of successes as both a player and coach including 5 league championships and a Provincial silver medal in 5 of his last 8 years of coaching. His primary focus as a coach is to guide and develop players, helping to prepare them for the next step in their hockey careers or stage in their lives. Derek will be making the move to Wisconsin Rapids from Alberta with his girlfriend, Nadia, and dog, Jasper. He also has three grown children, Kiara, Kaeden and Kyleigh.

Additional Staff

John Egge – Team Trainer & Team Chaplain

Nick Nigh – Medical Trainer

Linda Fuehrer – Director of Administration / Game Day Ops

Julie Schooley – Media Director / Photographer

Josh Damon – Assistant Game Day Ops/Social Media

Jim Arnold – Rink General Manager

Allyse Sullivan – Education Coordinator

Renee Pechmann – Game Day Ticket Sales

Tony Grapsas – β€œThe Voice” Rink Announcer

Malorie Schooley – Online Scoring

Candy Blakeslee – Scorekeeper

Matt Filmore – Web Master & Video

Zach Wetterau – Video Camera

Mark Kommer – Play-by-Play Announcer

Art Napgezek – Cameraman RCCA Media

Merle Cooney – 50/50 Tickets

Vaughn Kubisiak – Penalty Box

Del Worland – Penalty Box

Russ Blakeslee - Goal Judge

Jeff Konkol – Goal Judge

Lisa Black – Fog Machines / Security

Kelly Munguia – Game Day Apparel Sales

The Riverkings Pep Band – Led by Jordan Held

Scouting Staff

Canada – Rob Whitehead

Europe – Steve James

Europe – Cedric Delmarche

United States, East Coast – Jacob Mitchell