Brett Berard Bio
Brett Berard, born on September 9, 2002, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Berard was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th round, 134th overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He is best known for winning a gold medal with the United States men’s national junior ice hockey team at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing roughly 174 pounds, Berard is a left-handed shooting left winger whose game has been shaped by his compact frame and relentless work ethic. He skates for the Hartford Wolf Pack while continuing to develop as one of the more closely watched young forwards in the Rangers organization.
Early Life and Background
Brett Berard was born and raised in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, where he grew up surrounded by hockey. The sport was a family tradition, and Berard was on the ice at a young age. His father, David Berard, had been an assistant coach at Providence College when Brett was still a toddler, giving him an early connection to the college game that he would later join.
Growing up, Brett shared his passion for hockey with his younger brother, Brady Berard, and the two were intensely competitive with one another throughout their childhood. That sibling rivalry became a steady source of motivation, pushing Brett to sharpen his skills against a familiar opponent every day.
Berard’s path through youth hockey eventually led him into the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he spent time training against many of the top young players in the country before becoming eligible for the NHL Draft.
Path to Hockey
After completing his time with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Berard was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 134th overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He then committed to Providence College, joining the Providence Friars men’s ice hockey program for the 2020-21 season.
Across three seasons with the Friars from 2020-21 through 2022-23, Berard developed into a steady contributor at the college level. His play in Hockey East helped raise his profile within the Rangers organization, and by the end of his junior year he was widely viewed as one of New York’s more promising forward prospects.
Following the 2022-23 Providence season, Berard signed his first NHL contract with the Rangers and turned professional, immediately joining the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL for the final stretch of that year.
Brett Berard Career
Early Career (2023-2024)
Berard’s first full professional season came in 2023-24, when he played the entire year with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, leading the team in goals with 25 and finishing third on Hartford in points with 48.
Across the AHL that season, he placed third among league rookies in goals, a performance that confirmed his status as one of the top first-year pros in the league. His strong finish caught the attention of prospect evaluators covering the Rangers system.
Hartford Wolf Pack Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Berard’s rookie year in Hartford established him as a reliable scoring winger at the AHL level. His 25-goal campaign gave him a clear offensive identity, built on a quick shot release and the willingness to drive into the tough areas of the ice.
That season also came with a physical toll. Berard later revealed that he had played much of the year with a torn labrum, an injury that made his production all the more notable. Prospect analysts rated him as a top-tier forward in the Rangers pipeline heading into the next campaign.
New York Rangers Era (2024-Present)
Berard opened the 2024-25 season with Hartford, posting 7 goals and 6 assists in his first 16 games and earning an early recall to the Rangers. He made his NHL debut on November 25, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues, registering an assist in the contest, and scored his first NHL goal two nights later on November 27 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Berard was once again the Rangers’ last cut before opening night and returned to Hartford. He was recalled again on November 23, 2025, continuing his pattern of pushing for a full-time NHL role.
Driving Style and Strengths
Berard is a fast skater whose small stature is matched by grit and tenacity, traits that allow him to play bigger than his size suggests. He is an aggressive forechecker who kills penalties, drives the net, and battles for pucks in heavy traffic. Berard has worked to improve his skating speed and quick shot release, becoming more efficient at establishing inside shooting positions and using compact leverage to score from tough angles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Berard’s most celebrated moment came at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he won a gold medal with the United States as one of the youngest members of the roster. He later made his NHL debut in 2024 and scored his first NHL goal within his first two games, milestones that confirmed his arrival at the top level of the sport.
Brett Berard Career Wins
Brett Berard’s competitive record includes both team championships and individual statistical achievements. His clearest title to date is the 2021 World Junior gold medal with Team USA, while his strongest individual season came as Hartford’s leading goal scorer during his 2023-24 AHL rookie year.
International Highlights
Berard represented the United States at both the 2021 and 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. As the second-youngest member of the 2021 squad behind Matty Beniers, he helped the Americans capture gold. In 2022, the United States was upset by the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. He was later named to the United States men’s ice hockey team for the 2025 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his international success, Berard was a multi-year contributor for the Providence Friars in Hockey East before turning professional. He capped his time in college by signing his first NHL contract and quickly became Hartford’s top goal scorer as a rookie.
Brett Berard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Berard family. Brett’s father, David Berard, served as an assistant coach at Providence College when Brett was a toddler, helping shape the household’s connection to the game. Brett’s younger brother, Brady Berard, is also a hockey player and currently plays for the Boston College Eagles program, continuing the family’s presence in the sport.
Personal Life
Brett and Brady Berard grew up pushing each other on the ice, and that brotherly competition has remained a defining part of Brett’s development as a player. The two continue to share a strong hockey bond, with both pursuing careers at high levels of the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Berard spent the early part of 2025 with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he remained one of the team’s most productive forwards and continued to refine the offensive side of his game. His consistent scoring in Hartford kept him firmly in the Rangers’ plans, and he earned another NHL recall during the calendar year.
Across his time with the Rangers in 2025, Berard showed that his NHL debut performance was no fluke, contributing offensively in limited opportunities and demonstrating the speed and compete level that had defined his AHL career. His split-season role between Hartford and New York highlighted his standing as a forward on the cusp of full-time NHL duty.
Looking ahead, Berard is widely regarded as a top forward prospect within the Rangers organization, and continued strong play in Hartford could translate into a longer NHL stay as the season progresses.
