Bryan Berard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bryan Berard |
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| Born | March 5, 1977 Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| 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 |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 1st overall, 1995 Ottawa Senators |
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| Playing career | 1996–2009 | ||
Bryan Wallace Berard (born March 5, 1977) is a former professional ice hockey player from the United States. He played as a defenseman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Bryan was the very first player picked in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He is well-known for a serious eye injury he got early in his career. Even with many surgeries, he played 619 games in the NHL, which is a huge achievement!
Bryan Berard's Hockey Journey
Starting in Junior Hockey
Bryan grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He started his hockey journey playing for Mount St. Charles Academy. He helped his school win three championships!
Even though he had offers from big colleges, Bryan chose to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He joined the Detroit Junior Red Wings. In the 1994–95 season, his team won the OHL Championship. Bryan was also named the league's rookie of the year, which means he was the best new player.
Joining the NHL: Drafted First Overall
In the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, many experts thought Bryan would be the first player chosen. The Ottawa Senators picked him first overall. Another team, the Hartford Whalers, wanted to trade for him. But the Senators asked for too much, so the trade did not happen.
Bryan hoped to play in the NHL right away. However, after his first training camp, he was sent back to junior hockey. He was worried about his progress and asked for a trade. In January 1996, the Senators traded Bryan to the New York Islanders.
Making an Impact with the Islanders
Bryan joined the Islanders for the 1996–97 season and quickly showed how good he was. He scored 48 points in his first year. This was the most points for any defenseman on his team. He also finished ninth among all defensemen in the league for scoring.
For his great first year, Bryan won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the best rookie (new player) in the NHL. He also played for the United States team in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After three years with the Islanders, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in January 1999.
A Serious Eye Injury
Bryan played well for the Maple Leafs, scoring 19 points in 38 games. 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 injury.
A player's stick accidentally hit Bryan in his right eye. This caused a severe cut and damage to his eye. Doctors told him he might lose his eye. Even so, Bryan told his friends he would play hockey again. Many thought his career was over. He received money from his insurance company because of the injury.
Bryan missed the entire 2000–01 season. He had seven eye operations. His vision in the injured eye improved, but it was still very blurry. He started working out and skating again in 2001. He was fitted with a special contact lens. This lens helped him meet the league's vision rules. He then became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Returning to the NHL
When it seemed Bryan could play again, the Maple Leafs were interested. But Bryan chose to play for a team closer to his home in Rhode Island. He signed a tryout contract with the New York Rangers. He gave back his insurance money, taking a risk to play hockey again.
Bryan played well enough to earn a $2 million contract for the 2001–02 season. However, the Rangers did not keep him after that year. He then signed a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins. With the Bruins, Bryan started to play like he did before his injury. He scored ten goals and 38 points.
Even though he played well, the Bruins did not agree to the higher salary an arbitrator suggested. So, Bryan became a free agent again.
Playing for Other Teams
The Chicago Blackhawks offered Bryan a $2.01 million contract for one year. In Chicago, Bryan's game continued to get better. He finished the year with 47 points, almost his career best. He also won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This award is given to a player who shows great dedication to hockey.
The Blackhawks wanted him back and signed him for another year. But the 2004–05 NHL lockout cancelled that season. When the league started again, Bryan was not offered a new contract by the Blackhawks.
As a free agent, Bryan signed a two-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team thought his speed would be a great fit. Bryan had a good first season with 12 goals and 32 points in 44 games. However, a back injury stopped him from playing more. He had surgery for his back. The next season, he had another back surgery and played only eleven games. The Blue Jackets then let him go.
Bryan was invited to training camp with the Islanders again in 2007. He played well enough to earn a one-year contract. In his first game back with his original NHL team, Bryan scored the winning goal! He finished that season with five goals and 22 points.
Playing in Europe and Retiring
Before the 2008–09 NHL season, Bryan tried out for the Philadelphia Flyers. He did not get a contract. On November 16, 2008, Bryan signed with Vityaz Chekhov in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Europe. He scored 17 points in 25 games.
Bryan retired after the 2008–09 season because of ongoing problems with his back.
After Hockey
Bryan Berard now lives in Greenwich Village, New York. In 2011, he appeared on a TV show called Battle of the Blades. This show features hockey players figure skating with professional partners.
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 Play
| 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 | |||
See also
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
