In 2017, beloved NCCC hockey coach Tim Gerrish is seen here as he reunites with members of his team that won the 1995 NJCAA national title. Gerrish was being inducted into the North Country Community College Athletic Hall of Fame at the time. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Tim Gerrish’s illustrious career in hockey is a testament to his unwavering dedication, leadership and success at both the collegiate and international levels. A native of Potsdam, Gerrish has spent decades shaping the sport through coaching, mentorship and player development.

Outside of hockey, Gerrish served his country in the U.S. Army Security Agency as a radio traffic analyst with top secret security clearance. His educational path led him from Potsdam High School to Elmira College, where his leadership on the ice foreshadowed his future success as a coach.

As a standout player, Gerrish served as team captain, demonstrating the leadership qualities that would define his coaching career.

Gerrish’s contributions to hockey have earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the Walter Yaciuk Award for service to coaching education, and multiple Coach of the Year honors at the national and regional levels. He was also awarded the North Country Community College George Hodson Award for outstanding service and a certificate of appreciation from Essex County.

His collegiate coaching career is marked by impressive achievements across multiple programs. At NCCC, he built a powerhouse men’s ice hockey program, amassing a 315-187-2 record and leading the team to seven National Championship appearances, including a National Championship victory in 1995. He also headed NCCC’s women’s ice hockey team and coached the women’s softball team, expanding his influence beyond the rink. Additionally, Gerrish made coaching stops at Middlebury College, where he was an assistant coach for a National Championship-winning team, Skidmore College men’s ice hockey and Union College Women’s Division I Hockey as the head coach.

On the international stage, Gerrish has been a key figure in USA Hockey’s Women’s National Team.

His coaching contributions helped the team secure multiple medals, including a gold medal at the World Championship in Linkping, Sweden, and silver medals at World Championships in Halifax, Minneapolis and other global competitions. He was also instrumental in Four Nations Cup successes, earning gold in Skane, Sweden, and silver in Finland and Ontario.

His extensive experience also includes coaching Team USA in Beijing, China (event canceled due to SARS), the U-20 Women’s National Team in Montreal, and various Canada vs. USA series in Columbus, Chicago, Winnipeg and Detroit.

Beyond team coaching, Gerrish has been deeply involved in hockey development and education. He served as the director of coaching education for New York State Amateur Hockey and has been an evaluator for USA Hockey’s national and regional tryouts. His contributions to USA Hockey’s development camps for both boys and girls, as well as national goalie camps, have helped shape future generations of players. He has also been a special instructor for USA Hockey’s Sled Hockey and Hearing Impaired programs.

As a leading educator in the sport, Gerrish has been a featured presenter at USA Hockey coaching clinics across the country, sharing his expertise on small-area games and goaltending. He co-authored USA Hockey’s Level 1 and 2 coaching manuals and collaborated on a small-games training video.

Gerrish’s legacy is defined by his passion for the game, his impact on the players and his dedication to the sport’s growth. His unwavering commitment to player development and coaching education has left an indelible mark on the sport and his contributions at the collegiate, national, and international levels have solidified his place among hockey’s most influential figures, making him a truly deserving Hall of Fame inductee.