Bryan Berard
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Bryan Berard (born March 5, 1977 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA) is an American professional ice hockey player. He is most noted for a debilitating eye injury he received early in his career. He is also a graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy.
Playing Career
He was drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft but traded while still a prospect along with Damian Rhodes to the New York Islanders for Wade Redden and Martin Straka. He was a successful player on the Islanders and was rewarded for his efforts in 1997 by winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top rookie player in the NHL. He also played for the United States in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After four years on Long Island, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.Eye injury
In 2000, while Berard was playing for the Leafs in a game against the Senators, the stick of Marian Hossa clipped Berard in the right eye severely injuring it. In the hospital room after the incident, after being told he might lose his eye, Berard reportedly told his friends that he would play hockey again. Despite being optimistic about his future in hockey, he ended up receiving a $6.5 million settlement from his insurance company, what many considered to be a career-ending settlement.During the next season, he would undergo seven eye operations, miraculously improving his vision in the eye to 20/600. He started working out again in April 2001 and would start skating again months thereafter. He would later be fitted with a contact lens that allowed him to meet the league's minimum vision requirement of 20/400.[1]
When it became apparent that he might play again, the Leafs stated they were interested in his services, but Berard opted to play for a team that was currently rebuilding and was a bit closer to his home of Woonsocket. Upon signing a tryout contract with the New York Rangers, Berard returned his insurance settlement and risked a comeback to the NHL. Fortunately, he played well enough that his tryout contract would turn into a $2 million contract for the 2002-03 season.
He would then enjoy successful one-year stints with both the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks before signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 2005-06 season. As a result of his perseverance, Berard would be awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his dedication to hockey in 2004.
Steroids
In early 2006, it was revealed that he had tested positive for an anabolic steroids, known as 19-norandrosterone, in a drug test he had taken in November 2005. He was the first NHL player to ever test positive for steroids. The NHL did not hand down any form of suspension to Berard as they did not administer the test, but he was banned from international play for two years effective January 3rd, 2006. Berard was extremely remorseful after the incident, fully admitting he had made a mistake and would never do it again. He was quoted as saying, "I made a mistake that has resulted in this suspension and while unintentional, I take full responsibility. I became aware of the problem after the fact and for that I am disappointed in myself."[2]Achievements & awards
- NHL All-Rookie Team - 1997
- Calder Memorial Trophy - 1997
- Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy - 2003
Career statistics
As of June 26th, 2006 [link]| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1994-95 | Detroit Jr. Red Wings | OHL | 58 | 20 | 55 | 75 | 97 | 21 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 38 | ||
| 1995-96 | Detroit Jr. Red Wings | 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 | OHL | 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 | ||
| 1999-00 | 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 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 554 | 71 | 227 | 298 | 444 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 10 | ||||
References
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