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College Catch-Up: Shane Gersich

By Laney Byler, 12/18/17, 3:30PM EST

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2016 NCAA Champion and North Dakota junior Shane Gersich looks for another successful run in the NCAA Tournament.

Shane Gersich with the University of North Dakota (photo courtesy of Ross Hons/UND Athletics)

Shane Gersich with the University of North Dakota (photo courtesy of Ross Hons/UND Athletics)

On April 9th, 2016, 19,358 people found their way into Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, for the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey NCAA Championship between North Dakota and Quinnipiac.

Of those 19,358 people, only one would score the first goal of the national championship final halfway through the first period.

That person was North Dakota freshman Shane Gersich.

With 8:04 left in the first period, Gersich cleaned up a shot from senior captain Gage Ausmus to open scoring in the championship. Four additional goals from the Fighting Hawks later, Gersich was a national champion.

“It’s just a dream come true,” Gersich said. “My freshman year, we were lucky enough to win a national championship and that was something where I’ll remember those guys and that team and everything about that for the rest of my life.”

The forward, now a junior and All-NCHC preseason All-Conference Team pick, has been a staple for the Fighting Hawks’ roster since he arrived on campus in 2015. His freshman year, he ranked third among North Dakota freshmen with nine goals. Sophomore year, he scored 21 goals in 40 games, earning All-NCHC Honorable Mention. One play even made it on ESPN as the second-best goal of the week, where Gersich scored a three-on-three goal against Providence in overtime to seal a 3-2 win.

Despite family ties to the University of Minnesota — where his father and uncles both played college hockey — Gersich had been a fan of North Dakota ever since he was little and traveled to the arena for his brother’s tournament.

“Obviously right away, just the rink,” Gersich said. “The Ralph is unbelievable, it’s packed every single night. Our fans are so passionate and so loyal, and the coaching staff as well, super professional with everything they do and helping produce players. Just everything about it — it’s a smaller town and that’s something that I really like, it’s got a smaller town feel and just the culture here was something you hope you can be a part of and luckily it’s a dream come true.”

Before finding a home in Grand Forks, Gersich split his two seasons in the USHL between USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and the Omaha Lancers. He spent his 2013-14 season in Ann Arbor, scoring 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 61 games with the U18s. He also won the 2014 Men’s Under-18 World Junior Championship with the red, white and blue.

The next season, Gersich made the move to the Lancers to finish up high school before heading to college. While in Omaha, he led the team in goals, power play points, power play goals and game-winning goals. His impact was noticed, as he was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals.


Shane Gersich with Team USA in 2013-14 (Photo by USA Hockey)

NTDP Career

  • Years: 2013-14
  • Games: 61
  • Goals: 16
  • Assists: 16
  • Points: 32
  • Notes: Represented the U.S. at the 2014-15 World Junior A Challenge and played in all seven games leading to a gold medal at the 2014 Men's Under-18 World Junior Championship.

Just a year later, Gersich and the rest of the Fighting Hawks took their place as the frontrunners of college hockey. Now, the junior is ready to make it back to a crowded ice rink again and make history with another national championship title.  

North Dakota will kick off play after a three-week break against the U18s on Dec. 30th in a college exhibition match at Ralph Englestad Arena.

 

 

 

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