A Potsdam native helped Paul Smith’s College women’s hockey in becoming national champions of the inaugural AAU College Hockey Women’s Division National Tournament. 

The event, culminating on Sunday saw the Paul Smith’s College Bobcats take down the University of Tampa Spartans 4-2 at IceLine Quad Rinks in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Casey Gerrish said he and others were brought to Paul Smith’s College in 2018 to help build a hockey program. “And six years later we have our first championship,” he said.

Gerrish, who coaches both the men’s and women’s teams from 2018-21, now only coaches the men’s team.

The former Potsdam man thanked former school athletic director Jim Tucker, former school director of sports initiatives John Morgan, current Athletic Director Zack Luzzi, and coach Gibson Gilmore.

Gerrish was on hand to perform the commemorative puck drop as the Women’s Division Commissioner for AAU College Hockey.

Gerrish commented on the expected outcomes of the tournament, stating “This is the first step toward growing the women’s game in AAU College Hockey and giving more teams the opportunity to compete.  We want everyone here to have a great experience, and the feedback we’ve been getting from teams has been fantastic.”