Player, Coach, Scout, Family Man: Matt St. Germain
By Morgan Blaind
Before Matt St. Germain began drawing up plays or guiding young athletes from behind the bench, he was a determined forward skating for the Peterborough Petes. His time with the historic OHL franchise didn’t just shape his playing career, it laid the groundwork for a future in coaching. Immersed in a culture of accountability and development, St. Germain took note of the leadership styles around him, quietly building a foundation for the next chapter of his hockey life. For him, the Petes weren’t just a team, they were a turning point.
Drafted by Peterborough in 1991, the LaSalle, Ontario native played three seasons with the Petes from 1991 to 1994, recording 33 goals and 40 assists for 73 points over 176 games. He was also part of the 1992–93 roster that won the J. Ross Robertson Cup and advanced to the Memorial Cup, a season still remembered as one of the most successful in franchise history. “I’ve always been thankful for my time in Peterborough, and I try my best to get back there and visit with my family as often as I can,” St. Germain shared.
After his OHL career, St. Germain continued both his education and playing career at the University of Waterloo, where he notched 14 goals and 31 assists for 45 points in 53 games. “We went to nationals, which was a cool experience. I’d done it before in the OHL, and now again at the university level, seeing familiar names from junior, so it was great,” he recalled.
As his playing days came to a close, St. Germain looked for ways to stay involved in the game, and coaching quickly became a natural next step. “I always enjoyed being involved in coaching. During university, I helped some of the guys I worked with and coached minor hockey teams on campus, going out to practices and supporting them. It felt like a natural fit,” he explained. “When I moved back home, a family friend coaching a AAA team asked if I wanted to help out, and I got involved right away. After a few years, I moved on to coach a Junior B team.”
Eventually, St. Germain decided to step away from the rink to focus on starting a family. During that time, he met his wife and began a new chapter as a father. Still, the pull of the game never left him. When the opportunity arose to scout for his old team, it was an easy decision. “It helped me stay connected to the game,” he said. “It gave me a new perspective—almost like seeing how the machine works from the inside. I started to understand how teams are built and how decisions are made behind the scenes. It was a refreshing change and a really enjoyable way to stay involved in hockey, just in a different capacity than what I was used to.”
As his family grew and time on the road increased, St. Germain again reassessed his priorities. “My wife has always been incredibly supportive, taking care of everything at home while I was away. But after being on the road so much, I started to feel like I was missing out on the little moments with my kids, and that didn’t sit well with me,” he said. “That’s when I decided it was time to take a step back. I know I’ll always have the chance to return to the game, I’ve built strong relationships and have plenty of contacts, but for now, family comes first.”
In recent years, St. Germain has returned to coaching in a more balanced role—this time as both a coach and a dad. “My kids are now 8 and 10, and they’re really getting into the sport. It’s a lot of fun to be there for them in that way,” he said. The door to the hockey world is never far for someone like St. Germain, it’s just about finding the right time to walk through it. “I still have a strong passion for coaching and can definitely see myself getting back into it someday, but it has to fit with my family’s schedule first.”
