Bernard prepares at Potsdam
POTSDAM — The last time Brasher Falls native Chris Bernard could call Potsdam his home for a hockey season was the 1997-98 campaign, when he ended his career as a goalie at Clarkson University.
But 12 years later Bernard has returned to the north country as the head coach for the SUNY Potsdam men's team.
"I was pleased to have an opportunity to come back," said Bernard. "When I saw (the job) was available, I decided I'd put my best foot forward and try to pursue it to the best of my ability and hope things were going to turn out positive."
Bernard has spent the past three seasons as the coach of Western New England, where he went 17-52-4 with a program that has historically struggled.
When Aaron Saul resigned as Bears coach to take the job at Elmira College, Bernard pounced on the chance to move back to his home region, even if it meant tough goodbyes to his former players.
"You develop a relationship with guys on both a personal and professional level," Bernard said. "From a professional standpoint, you want to see the goals you set for them as individuals and as a team collectively to be met. You are left hanging a little bit. There's unfinished business.
"On a personal standpoint, you ask the kids to invest in you and your ideals and you do the same for them. When you leave you just have to dwell on what you did accomplish together."
For those new to the area, Bernard was a standout goalie at St. Lawrence Central and walked onto the Clarkson program, despite some telling him he had no chance to perform at the NCAA Division I level.
In his first three years the doubters were right, as he saw a total of nine minutes of playing time.
But he emerged as a regular during his senior season and finished the 1997-98 season with a 13-0-1 record then embarked on a six-year pro career spent with the Mohawk Valley Prowlers, Missouri River Otters and Fayetteville Force.
"On one hand, it's much easier to identify with the struggles that players go through," Bernard said. "I wasn't a guy it came easy for. You have that deeper appreciation, I think, for that guy who is really pushing and pushing to get ice time. On the other side of the fence, having gone through that and knowing the emotional turmoil you experience, it's hard when you are holding the cards and knowing your decisions are directly affecting kids, their lives and their goals and their dreams. Hopefully you have a degree of compassion."
Even in the three years he barely played at Clarkson, Bernard always maintained an enthusiastic spirit. It's a trait he maintains today and one his players will benefit from.
"He's been great so far," said Bears captain Connor Treacy. "He's welcomed us with open arms and we're having a good time. He knows a lot about the game. That's going to help us along the road here. Having a personality like that helps the boys get going at certain times. Having him cheering us on will be a lot of help."
MEN'S TEAM
The Bears went 9-12-5 overall last season and were 6-6-4 in SUNYAC play. Treacy was the team's leading scorer with 20 goals and 20 assists. SUNY Potsdam's second-leading scorer, forward Luke Beck (two goals, 26 assists) did not return this season, even though he had a year of eligibility.
The Bears do return their main goalie from last year, sophomore Trevor O'Neill, who was 5-9-2 with a 4.0 goals-against average and .859 save percentage.
WOMEN'S TEAM
The Bears went 4-17-2 in their inaugural season and were 3-13-2 in ECAC Division III West Division play. SUNY Potsdam scored only 35 goals in 23 games and allowed 88.
SUNY Potsdam returns its three leading scorers from a team that was mostly freshmen last year. Sophomore defenseman Breanna Roy led the team with six goals and 10 assists, and sophomore forward Annmarie Lewis had seven goals and eight assists.
Potsdam native Hilary Hitchman, a senior, returns at goalie after posting a 4-16-2 record with a 3.71 goals-against average and .899 save percentage last season.
SWIMMING
SAINTS START STRONG
St. Lawrence University has gone a combined 3-1 to start the new season, with the women winning dual meets against Clarkson and Skidmore and the men topping Skidmore.
Former St. Lawrence Central standout Abbey Lynch is one of the Saints' top performers. She won the 50-meter freestyle in both meets. Brynn Hagen is another top performer for the SLU women.
The men's top early-season performers have been Chris Woolston, Stephen Dally and Elias Schoen.
CLARKSON LED BY ROWE
Sophomore Mike Rowe will be one of the standouts for Clarkson this season. Last year he set three individual school records in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle.
The women's team is led by Laura Shaddak and Nicole Pera, who owns the school record in the 200 backstroke.
BEARS DIVE TO SUCCESS
SUNY Potsdam's big performer last year was senior diver Nathan LaRowe, who finished fourth in the 3-meter diving competition at the NCAA Division III championship meet and earned All-American status.
He also competed at the NCAA's in the 1-meter dive, finishing in 13th.
