Brett Berard Bio
Brett Berard (born September 9, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) as an unsigned prospect of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The East Greenwich, Rhode Island native was selected by the Rangers in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Berard won a gold medal with the United States men’s national junior ice hockey team at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Early Life and Background
Brett Berard was born on September 9, 2002, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He grew up in the Ocean State with a strong hockey influence in his family. His father, David Berard, previously served as an assistant coach for the Providence College Friars when Brett was a toddler, exposing him to college hockey at an early age. This family connection to Providence College would later play a significant role in Berard’s development pathway.
Berard began his organized hockey journey through the traditional American development system. He established himself as a skilled forward during his youth career, demonstrating the skating ability and competitive drive that would define his playing style. His early exposure to the sport came through local Rhode Island programs before advancing to higher levels of competition.
Path to Professional Hockey
Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Berard was a member of the prestigious USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP). The program, based in Plymouth, Michigan, serves as the primary developmental pathway for elite American hockey players aiming for professional careers and international competition. During his time with the USNTDP, Berard refined his skills against the nation’s top prospects while gaining valuable experience in international play.
Following his USNTDP tenure, Berard committed to play collegiately for the Providence College Friars beginning with the 2020-21 season. Providence, a perennial NCAA hockey contender, provided Berard with the opportunity to develop under collegiate competition while continuing his education. His father’s coaching connection to the program created a unique family legacy within the hockey program.
Brett Berard Career
College Career with Providence Friars (2020–2023)
Berard joined the Providence Friars lineup in the 2020-21 season, immediately making an impact at the collegiate level. His speed, tenacious forechecking, and hockey intelligence translated well to the NCAA game, where he developed into a reliable two-way forward. The transition from the USNTDP to college hockey required adjustment, but Berard’s work ethic and adaptability allowed him to contribute meaningfully as a rookie.
Over his three seasons with Providence, Berard developed into a key contributor for the Friars. He continued to refine his offensive instincts while maintaining the defensive responsibility that college hockey demands. By the conclusion of his junior season, Berard had established himself as one of Providence’s most reliable forwards, positioning him for the next step in his professional career.
New York Rangers Organization and AHL Development (2023–2025)
Following his junior season with Providence in 2023, Berard signed his first professional contract with the New York Rangers organization in March 2023. The Rangers, who had drafted him three years earlier, assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to begin his professional development. This assignment allowed Berard to continue his growth in a professional environment while remaining close to the Rangers’ major league operations.
The 2023-24 season marked Berard’s first full professional campaign, and he made an immediate impact with the Wolf Pack. He led the team in goals with 25 tallies, demonstrating his scoring ability at the AHL level. Additionally, his goal total ranked him third among all AHL rookies that season, highlighting his strong debut professional year. His performance established him as one of the Rangers’ most promising prospects and put him on the radar for potential NHL consideration.
Berard entered the 2024-25 season with increased expectations after his breakout AHL campaign. Despite playing much of the season with a torn labrum, he demonstrated remarkable toughness and perseverance. His dedication paid off during training camp with the Rangers, where he delivered a strong performance and was one of the team’s final cuts before the regular season began. This near-miss demonstrated that he was close to NHL-ready.
NHL Debut with New York Rangers (2024)
In late November 2024, Berard received his first NHL recall from the Rangers. He made his NHL debut on November 25, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues, registering an assist in his first professional game at the highest level. The assist came just one day after his recall, showing that he could contribute immediately against NHL competition. Berard’s quick adjustment to the NHL pace reflected the development he had undergone in his AHL career.
Berard’s first career NHL goal came shortly after his debut. On November 27, 2024, he scored his inaugural NHL goal against the Carolina Hurricanes. This milestone marked the culmination of his development journey from youth hockey in Rhode Island through the USNTDP, college hockey at Providence, and finally to the world’s top professional league. The achievement validated the Rangers’ patience in developing their fifth-round draft pick.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing at just 5 feet 9 inches tall, Berard has faced questions about his size throughout his hockey career. However, his exceptional skating speed has been a consistent asset that helps compensate for any height disadvantage. NHL scouts have noted his grit and tenacity as key attributes, with one scout describing him as “a pest to play against.” His ability to elude larger opponents and navigate tight spaces has become a trademark of his playing style.
Berard has embraced his size as an advantage rather than a limitation. He has explained that his smaller stature allows him to escape from bigger opponents more easily and grants him mobility advantages when navigating corners. His efficiency at establishing inside shooting positions and his compact frame help him gain leverage at difficult angles. Over the course of the 2023-24 AHL season, he notably improved his skating speed and shooting ability, developing a quick release that made him a more dangerous scoring threat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Berard’s career has been marked by steady progression through the American hockey development system. His gold medal with Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships served as an early career highlight, with Berard being the second youngest member of that championship team. The following year, he returned for the 2022 tournament, though the United States was upset by Czechia in the quarterfinals. In April 2025, he received his first senior national team call-up for the IIHF World Championship, though he ultimately could not compete due to injury.
Brett Berard Career Wins
Throughout his career, Berard has accumulated notable achievements at both the international and professional levels. His most significant championship came at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he helped lead Team USA to a gold medal. At the professional level, his 25-goal season with Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2023-24 campaign represented his strongest individual professional performance.
AHL Highlights
Berard’s 2023-24 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack stands as his most productive professional campaign to date. Leading the team with 25 goals demonstrated his ability to be a primary scoring option at the AHL level. Finishing third among all AHL rookies in goals validated his status as one of the top first-year professional players in the league. This performance positioned him firmly within the Rangers’ organizational depth chart and accelerated his path toward regular NHL consideration.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Berard’s gold medal with the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team remains a career highlight. The tournament victory represented the pinnacle of his international career to that point. His NHL debut and first career goal in November 2024 marked his official arrival at hockey’s highest level, completing a progression that began in Rhode Island youth hockey.
Brett Berard Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Brett Berard comes from a hockey family with established connections to the sport. His father, David Berard, previously served as an assistant coach for Providence College during Brett’s early childhood. This background provided Brett with early exposure to college hockey environments and a natural appreciation for the development process required to reach professional levels. The family connection to Providence College eventually played a role in Brett’s college recruitment.
Personal Life
Brett has a younger brother named Brady who is also pursuing a hockey career. Brady Berard currently plays for the Boston College Eagles, one of the top collegiate hockey programs in the country. The Berard brothers maintained a competitive relationship growing up, constantly pushing each other to improve. Both brothers’ achievements at high levels of hockey reflect the family’s deep connection to the sport. Brett’s focus on overcoming his size limitations and his mental approach to the game have been noted as distinguishing characteristics of his personality.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season represented a significant chapter in Berard’s professional development. Despite dealing with a torn labrum injury for much of the campaign, he demonstrated resilience by continuing to perform at a high level. His strong training camp performance with the Rangers in the fall showcased the progress he had made since his AHL rookie season, ultimately earning him a recall to the NHL roster.
Berard’s NHL debut in late November 2024 came after years of patient development within the Rangers organization. The fact that he recorded an assist in his debut and followed it with his first career goal two days later demonstrated his ability to compete immediately at the NHL level. These performances provided valuable information for both Berard and the Rangers regarding his readiness for regular NHL action.
Looking forward, Berard continues to work toward establishing himself as a regular NHL contributor. His combination of speed, tenacious forechecking, and developing goal-scoring ability gives him a skill set that translates well to the modern NHL game. As he continues to recover from injury and build endurance at the professional level, Berard remains a prospect of interest for the Rangers’ long-term plans.