Discover Exceptional Community Coaches: Gerard Germain

Each week, Discover will feature a different youth coach as part of its Exceptional Community Coaches series. In continued support of local hockey communities, Discover is making a $2,000 donation to each of the Learn to Play programs this season.This week, a look at Dallas Stars representative Gerard Germain of the Northwest Arkansas Little Ice Hogs Learn to Play program:

Name of Coach:Gerard Germain
Name of LTP Program:Northwest Arkansas Ice Hogs LTP
About the coach:Gerard Germain was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and is a lifelong hockey fan. He and his coaching staff have led the Northwest Arkansas Ice Hogs LTP and U8 programs for the past four seasons. As a level 3 coach the LTP program is one of his favorite parts of each season. Watching a child go from barely being able to stand up on skates to becoming a hockey player is the best part of the LTP program.
About the program: The Northwest Arkansas Hockey Association is made up of skaters from age 4 through 18 that play recreationally as well as competitively. Over the past five years, youth hockey has been introduced to over 400 young athletes throughout the region and participation in the sport has doubled in Northwest Arkansas through coach Gerard's dedication to the LTP program. Many of the skaters that have participated in the LTP programs are now entering their 1st year U14/Bantam seasons.
Donation meaning:With the donation, NW Arkansas plans to continue to support the sport at the U8 level to drive association growth and love of the youth sport of hockey in the region and beyond.