POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey coach Chris Bernard has announced that Sean O’Malley will serve as the team’s assistant coach for the 2012-13 season.

O’Malley replaces Tim Crowley, who has assumed the head women’s golf and assistant men’s hockey coaching positions at Elmira College.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to add someone to our staff that personifies the characteristics of passion and loyalty the way Sean does on a daily basis,” said Bernard. “His work ethic, professionalism and experience will benefit our players and our program immensely."

O’Malley enters his first season with Potsdam after playing minor pro hockey over the last two seasons. The Cleveland native spent last season with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League and the Danbury Whalers of the Federal Hockey League. In two seasons with the Whalers, O’Malley played in 97 games and totaled 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points.

As a former collegiate player O’Malley is very familiar with the Bears and the SUNYAC. The center spent four seasons with the Brockport Golden Eagles. O’Malley played in 101 games, scoring 32 goals and assisting on 38 others. As a senior he served as an assistant captain and was the recipient of the Bob Pedersen Coach’s Award.

O’Malley brings plenty of coaching experience to the Bears’ bench as well. For the past five seasons, he has been an on-ice instructor at Can/Am hockey schools in Lake Placid and Guelph, Ontario. O’Malley spent last summer in Cleveland as an on-ice instructor for the Ohio Hockey Project where he coached Junior A players.

O’Malley graduated from Brockport in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.