Bryan Berard

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameBryan Wallace•Berard
Used nameBryan•Berard
Born5 March 1977 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island (USA)
Measurements185 cm / 86 kg
AffiliationsNew York Islanders, New York (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Bryan Berard was an NHL defenseman who played for the United States at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Berard was the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He was quickly re-assigned to Junior A and came up to the NHL with the New York Islanders in 1996/97. In his rookie season he was named to the NHL All-Rookie team and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year.

Berard played through the 2007/08 season in the NHL, moving around among various teams. He played for three years with the Islanders, and then was then with, successively, the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Columbus Blue Jackets, before finishing his last year back with the Islanders. Berard then played one season in the Russian league with Vityaz Chekhov.

In March 2000 Berard’s career almost came to an end when he was slashed by the Washington Senators’ Marian Hossa and sustained a severe eye injury. Berard underwent seven eye operations, and received a large insurance settlement, felt to be a career-ending settlement. He was fitted with contact lenses, however, and his vision improved enough for him to be able to play after missing the 2000/01 season.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1998 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) USA Bryan Berard
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) United States =5