Bryan Berard
First overall pick who overcame a severe eye injury.
Bryan Wallace Berard was born on March 5, 1977, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and went on to become a professional ice hockey defenseman in the NHL. He was selected first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL entry draft, but his career is best remembered for a severe eye injury he suffered early on, which he managed to overcome and still play 619 games in the league.
Berard started his junior hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island, where he won three school championships before leaving after his third year. He had scholarship offers from Boston College, the University of Maine, and the University of Michigan, but instead chose to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Drafted by the Detroit Junior Red Wings, he won the OHL championship with them in the 1994–95 season, made the league’s first all-star team, and was named rookie of the year—only the third defenseman to earn that honor.
Heading into the 1995 NHL entry draft, Berard was widely seen as the consensus top pick, and the Senators took him first overall. The Hartford Whalers, who held the 13th pick, tried to trade up for him but stopped when Ottawa demanded Chris Pronger in return. Berard expected to jump straight to the NHL because the Senators’ blue line was weak, but after training camp he was sent back to junior hockey. Unhappy with his development, he asked for a trade. In January 1996, the Senators sent him, Martin Straka, and Don Beaupre to the New York Islanders for Wade Redden and Damian Rhodes.
Berard joined the Islanders for the 1996–97 season and made an immediate splash. He led all defensemen on the team with 48 points, ranked ninth among NHL defensemen in scoring, and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, beating out Jarome Iginla. He also played for the United States at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where the team finished sixth. After three years with the Islanders, the team grew concerned about his defensive play and wanted a proven goaltender, so they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Félix Potvin on January 9, 1999.
With the Maple Leafs, Berard put up 19 points in 38 regular-season games and played 17 more in the playoffs. In his second season, he had 30 points in 64 games when, on March 11, 2000, during a game against the Senators in Ottawa, Marián Hossa’s stick caught Berard in the right eye on a follow-through.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Defense
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 220
- Ntl Team
- USA
- Birth Date
- 1977-03-05
- Birth Place
- Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S.
- Draft
- 1st overall
- Draft Year
- 1995
- Draft Team
- Ottawa Senators
- Career Start
- 1996
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Berard began his junior career at Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island, winning three championships before moving to the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted by the Detroit Junior Red Wings and won the OHL Championship in 1994–95, also earning league rookie of the year honors as only the third defenseman to do so. After being drafted first overall by Ottawa, he was traded to the New York Islanders in January 1996 along with Martin Straka and Don Beaupre for Wade Redden and Damian Rhodes. He won the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 1997 and played for the United States in the 1998 Winter Olympics. In March 2000, while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he suffered a severe eye injury from Marián Hossa's stick, resulting in a retinal tear and detached retina. He missed the 2000–01 season, underwent seven eye operations, and eventually fitted a contact lens to meet the league's minimum vision requirement. He returned to play for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and again the Islanders. His time in Columbus was marked by back problems, including surgery for a herniated disc, limiting him to 11 games in his second season. He later played in the KHL for Vityaz Chekhov before retiring due to back issues.
Reader's Guide
Bryan Berard's career is defined by his resilience in the face of a catastrophic eye injury that would have ended most careers. After being told he might lose his eye, he vowed to play again and underwent multiple surgeries to restore partial vision. He returned his insurance settlement to attempt a comeback with the New York Rangers, eventually regaining form with the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, where he won the Bill Masterton Trophy for dedication to hockey. His offensive production as a defenseman remained strong, posting 47 points with Chicago and 32 points in 44 games with Columbus before back injuries curtailed his effectiveness. Berard was also the first NHL player to test positive for an anabolic steroid, though the NHL did not suspend him; he was banned from international play for two years. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. His legacy is that of a player who overcame a severe physical limitation to maintain a productive NHL career, but whose later years were hampered by chronic back problems.
Did You Know?
- Berard was the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators.
- He was the first NHL player ever to test positive for steroids.
More in Columbus Blue Jackets Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced