Bryan Berard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bryan Berard |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1977 Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S. |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Boston Bruins Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Vityaz Chekhov |
||
| National team |  United States |
||
| NHL Draft | 1st overall, 1995 Ottawa Senators |
||
| Playing career | 1996–2009 | ||
Bryan Berard, born on March 5, 1977, is a former professional ice hockey player from the United States. He played as a defenseman, a player who helps protect the team's goal. He was chosen as the very first player in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. Bryan is well-known for a serious eye injury he got early in his career. Even after many surgeries, he bravely played 619 games in the NHL. This shows his amazing determination.
Contents
Bryan Berard's Hockey Journey
Starting in Junior Hockey
Bryan Berard grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He started his hockey journey playing for Mount St. Charles Academy. He helped his school team win three championships. After high school, Bryan decided to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
He joined the Detroit Junior Red Wings in the OHL. In the 1994–95 season, his team won the OHL Championship. Bryan was also named the league's rookie of the year. This was a big achievement for a defenseman.
Joining the NHL: New York Islanders
In 1995, Bryan Berard was considered the top player in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. The Ottawa Senators picked him first overall. Bryan hoped to play in the NHL right away. However, the Senators sent him back to junior hockey to develop more.
Bryan wanted to play in the NHL, so he asked for a trade. In January 1996, the Senators traded Bryan to the New York Islanders. This trade allowed him to join an NHL team.
Bryan made a big impact with the Islanders in the 1996–97 season. He scored 48 points, which was excellent for a defenseman. He won the Calder Trophy as the best rookie in the NHL. He also played for the United States in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After three years, the Islanders traded Bryan to the Toronto Maple Leafs in January 1999.
A Serious Injury and Brave Comeback
Bryan played well for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his second year with the team, he had 30 points in 64 games. But on March 11, 2000, during a game, he suffered a very serious eye injury. A stick hit his right eye, causing a severe cut and a detached retina.
Doctors told Bryan he might lose his eye. Many people thought his hockey career was over. He even received an insurance payment because of the injury. However, Bryan was determined to play again.
He missed the entire 2000–01 season. Bryan had seven eye operations to improve his vision. He started working out and skating again. He was fitted with a special contact lens that helped him meet the NHL's vision rules. Bryan became a unrestricted free agent in 2001, meaning he could sign with any team.
Playing for Different Teams
When it seemed Bryan could play again, the Maple Leafs were interested. But Bryan chose to sign a tryout contract with the New York Rangers. He returned his insurance money, showing his commitment to playing hockey again. He played well enough to earn a $2 million contract for the 2001–02 season.
After one season with the Rangers, Bryan signed a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins. With the Bruins, he started to play like he did before his injury. He scored ten goals and 38 points, his highest total in years.
Next, Bryan joined the Chicago Blackhawks. His game continued to improve, and he scored 47 points. He received the Bill Masterton Trophy for his dedication to hockey. This award celebrates players who show great sportsmanship and perseverance.
The 2004–05 NHL lockout cancelled the next season. After that, Bryan signed a two-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played well, but back injuries started to affect him. He had surgery for a herniated disc. These injuries limited his playing time in Columbus.
In 2007, Bryan returned to his original NHL team, the New York Islanders. In his first game back, he scored the winning goal against the Rangers. He played one more season with the Islanders.
European Hockey and Retirement
Before the 2008–09 NHL season, Bryan tried out for the Philadelphia Flyers but did not get a contract. He then signed with Vityaz Chekhov in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He scored 17 points in 25 games. Bryan retired from hockey after the 2008–09 season due to ongoing back problems.
Life After Hockey
Bryan Berard now lives in Greenwich Village, New York. In 2011, he appeared on Battle of the Blades, a TV show where hockey players team up with figure skaters.
Unfortunately, Bryan was involved in a financial scam along with other NHL players.
Awards and Honors
- NHL All-Rookie Team, 1997
- Calder Memorial Trophy, 1997
- Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, 2004
- Inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame, 2018
Career Statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991–92 | Mount St. Charles Academy | HS-RI | 15 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Mount St. Charles Academy | HS-RI | 15 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Mount St. Charles Academy | HS-RI | 15 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1994–95 | Detroit Junior Red Wings | OHL | 58 | 20 | 55 | 75 | 97 | 21 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 38 | ||
| 1994–95 | Detroit Junior Red Wings | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1995–96 | Detroit Whalers | OHL | 56 | 31 | 58 | 89 | 116 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 41 | ||
| 1996–97 | New York Islanders | NHL | 82 | 8 | 40 | 48 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | New York Islanders | NHL | 75 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Islanders | NHL | 34 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 3 | 27 | 30 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 80 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 64 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 58 | 13 | 34 | 47 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 44 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | New York Islanders | NHL | 54 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Vityaz Chekhov | KHL | 25 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 619 | 76 | 247 | 323 | 500 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 10 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | United States | WJC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | |
| 1996 | United States | WJC | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 20 | |
| 1997 | United States | WC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1998 | United States | OG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 56 | |||
| Senior totals | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
