Coaches
Rich Metro, Boys U16 Head Coach
Email: rich.metro@s-sm.org
Phone: 507-333-1576
Rich Metro, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., joined the Shattuck-St. Mary's coaching staff in the fall of 2018.
Metro has more than 20 years of combined collegiate and professional hockey experience. Prior to joining SSM, Metro was an assistant coach at Lake Superior State University from 2014-2018, where he was the team’s offensive and recruiting coordinator. Also during this time, he served as the Director of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association bantam camps and LSSU summer hockey camps. This was his second assistant coach role at LSSU, having previously served from 2007-2011. In between his time at LSSU, Metro gained valuable head coach experience in France while coaching Les Ours de Villard de Lans, League Magnus professional hockey team, from 2011-2014. He earned multiple “Coach of the Year” honors from various French publications.
As a professional hockey player, Metro played Les Ours de Villard from 2001-2007, where he earned the title of French National Champion as well as the leading scorer and won two Championship titles.
After winning two national championships with Sault Michigan Hockey Association teams, Metro played for the Soo Hawks and Marquette Electricians AAA midget teams, and the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League. He would play collegiate hockey at Northern Michigan University. While at NMU, Metro was recognized as the Wildcats' Rookie of the Year and served two seasons (1997-99) as a team co-captain. He concluded his four-year (1995-99) career at NMU with 59 points (24-35--59) in 148 games played, which included a career single-season high 20 points (11-9--20) in 34 1997-98 outings.
Metro played at NMU for coach Rick Comley. Metro's positive attitude and leadership helped guide the 1998-99 Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament his senior year after winning only seven games his freshman year in 1995-96.
Des Christopher, Boys U16 Associate Head Coach
Email: des.christopher@s-sm.org
Phone: 507-333-1854
Coach Des Christopher was hired in the 2005-06 season as the program’s goaltending coach (a position he still holds). In 2009, he was named the head coach of the Bantam A team, finishing with a record of 36-12-4. From 2010-2014, he held the position as assistant coach on the Boys U18 Prep team and won three USA Hockey National titles in four attempts. Christopher also captured the 2010 World Sports School Challenge in Calgary, Alberta as head coach, as former head coach Tom Ward was at World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From 2014-16, Christopher served as assistant coach with the Boys U16 team and won back-to-back USA Hockey National titles, the first time in the School’s history. In 2016-17, he was back with the Boys Prep Team and captured the USA Hockey Bronze Medal. On Nov. 24, 2017, Christopher was named the Boys U16 Head Coach, compiling a 17-10-6 record to finish the season.
During his time with the Sabres, Christopher has assisted in helping hundreds of players reach their goal of NCAA hockey. In addition, the awards associated with his time at SSM are impressive - 12 NHL draft picks, 25 USA Hockey National Titles as the Director of Goaltending, five USA Hockey National Titles as an assistant coach, and four Gold Medals at the Hockey Canada World Sport School Challenge. Christopher also serves as Shattuck-St. Mary’s USA Hockey Registrar for all the North American and international players along with coaching certifications for all staff members.
Born in Newfoundland, Canada, Christopher grew up playing minor and junior league hockey in Calgary, Alberta. He represented Hockey Canada in the U17 Team Pacific at the ESSO Cup and collected Top Goaltender Honors. During his last year of junior hockey, he was named to the AJHL all-star game and was named MVP. He also collected team MVP for the Calgary Royals.
Coach Christopher obtained a scholarship to play hockey at Minnesota State University - Mankato in 1994-98. He collected Team MVP and Senior Male Athlete of the year in his final season with the Mavericks. Upon graduation, he signed a contract with Adendorfer EC in Germany and played one season before finishing his career in the WPHL.
In 2000, Christopher was hired as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at MSU (a position he held for nine years) while working on his master’s degree in educational leadership. He owns two Bachelor of Science degrees in Education/Teaching along with his master’s.
In 2002, Coach Christopher formed The Goalie Club, a goalie training company which helps thousands of goalies reach their potential, even as far as the National Hockey League. In 2018, he formed the Minnesota Hook AAA Hockey Development program. This program was formed with a focus on youth hockey skills and character development.