SUNY Potsdam Athletics

Chris Bernard enters his 17th season as head men's ice hockey coach at SUNY Potsdam.

The Bears returned to the playoffs in 2023-24. Lenny Perno was named to the all-rookie team.

In 2019-20, Bernard guided the Bears to their first playoff victory and SUNYAC Semifinal appearance since 2008.

The 2018-19 season saw Bernard pick up his 100th career victory. Potsdam also recorded its first ever season sweep of North Country rival Plattsburgh with 4-3 and 7-4 victories. The Bears finished the campaign with an 8-16-1 record. 

The Bears were back in the SUNYAC playoffs in 2017-18. The Bears were 10-11-5 overall and 6-8-2 in conference play. Bernard's squad got hot at the right time, tying No. 8 Geneseo 1-1, upending #13 Buffalo State 3-2 and shutting out No. 3 Oswego 1-0 on the road thanks to a 4-2 save performance by goaltender Brendan McMenimen. Dylan Vander Esch and Kyle Thacker each earned All-SUNYAC honors and signed professional contracts after the season. 

In 2015-16, Potsdam finished with an 11-11-4 mark including a 7-7-2 finish in the SUNYAC for its fourth playoff appearance in the last five years. Under Bernard's guidance, a red hot start to the campaign resulted in the Bears earning a No. 12 ranking in the USCHO.com and D3Hockey.com polls, their first appearance in the national polls since 2001. Sophomore Dylan Vander Esch was named to the All-SUNYAC second team.

2014-15 was a standout season for the Bears, who finished with a 12-11-3 mark (8-6-2 SUNYAC) to earn their first winning season in 11 years and first home playoff game in seven seasons. Jon Hall was brilliant between the pipes to earn first team All-SUNYAC honors. Highlights included victories over three ranked opponents. The Bears downed No. 15 Hobart and No. 4 Geneseo and capped the regular season with a road victory over No. 1 Oswego.

In 2013-14, Potsdam posted a 9-14-2 mark and reopened the newly renovated Maxcy Ice Arena. The high point of the year was a 5-2 road victory at Geneseo on Feb. 1. Senior captain Mike Arnold closed out his Bears career with by returning to the All-SUNYAC third team.

During the 2012-13 campaign, the Bears posted a 9-16-1 mark, including a winning record at Massena Arena where the team played during Maxcy's renovations. Season highlights included an overtime victory over No. 20 Geneseo and the program's third playoff appearance in the last four years. Mike Arnold was named to the All-SUNYAC third team.

In 2011-12, after a large influx of new talent, the Bears returned to the playoffs with a 8-16-2 mark. Senior captain Sy Nutkevitch led the team and the SUNYAC in scoring and earned second team all-conference honors. Freshman Erick Ware was rewarded with a spot on the third team.

In 2009-10, Bernard led the Bears to a 9-14-2 mark, and the SUNYAC Tournament quarterfinals. Senior forward Connor Treacy was named first team all-conference for the second straight season after posting 11 goals and 27 assists, which ranked third in the league.

Prior to Potsdam, Bernard coached at Division III Western New England (Mass.) College for three seasons. Prior to his tenure at WNEC, Bernard was an assistant coach at Division I Canisius College during the 2005-06 season. He also served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Sting of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) during the 2001-02 season.

From 1998-2004, Bernard played professional hockey with the Mohawk Valley Prowlers and the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League (UHL), as well as the Fayetteville Force of the Central Hockey League (CHL).

A native of Brasher Falls, Bernard played college hockey for Division I Clarkson, where he was the recipient of the Mike Morrison Scholarship for athletic and academic excellence. He compiled a .964 career winning percentage as a goaltender, including a 13-0-1 tally during his senior year.

During his tenure, the Golden Knights won two ECAC regular season championship titles and participated in four NCAA Tournaments. Clarkson also enjoyed four seasons of at least 20 wins and tallied a 98-39-10 record during Bernard’s four years.

In 1998, Bernard earned his bachelor's in technical communications from Clarkson. He later received his master's in sports administration from Canisius.

As President and Founder of Goaltender Enhancement Programs, Bernard directs a business that is dedicated to the development of aspiring young goaltenders. He also serves as Director of Coaching for Lake Placid’s Can-Am Hockey Schools.

The Bernard File
Personal

• Sons Jaxon (16) and Brandon (14)

Honors/Achievements

• Sons: Jaxon 19, Brandon 16
• SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year 2023-24
• (5) Maxcy/Molnar Award Winners: Kevin MacLellan, Nick Casacci, Nate Skidmore, Joseph Richardson, Ethan Clark
• (3) Student Affairs Division Award: Ethan Clark, Nick Alfieri, Josh Bifolchi
• (2) Potrtait of Potsdam Athlete Award Winners: Ben Mariano, Ethan Clark
• (10+) Players have gone to become NCAA Hockey Coaches
• (25+) Players have gone to play professional hockey
• (150+) Players named to SUNYAC Commisioner's List for Academic Excellence
• (14) Players named All-SUNYAC team
• (12) Wins over top 15 opponents
• SUNY Potsdam Most Improved Team 2023-24
• Delete AHCA All-Americans
• (1)  SUNY Potsdam Hall of Fame inductee: Dylan Vander Esch
• (3) Players named to  CSC At-Large Academic All-District Team

Academics:

• 3.56 Team GPA
• UUP Scholarship Award Winner: Max Fogel   
• 2 Players named to Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society: Joe Gilhooly, Kyle Thacker          
• 17 Players named AHCA All-American Scholars
• 123 players named to SUNYAC All-Academic/Commissioner's Honor Roll