Two years removed from a long career, Bryan Berard received a call to return to the ice.
Living in an apartment in New York City, the 34-year-old Rhode Island native had never seen the CBC fish-out-of-frozen-water contest show before, or even laced up a pair of figure skates.
So when Battle of the Blades executive producer Kevin Albrecht rang up the retired defenceman, Berard needed a week to think about it. He was 50/50.
"I just didn’t know what to expect. Putting on a pair of figure skates was my biggest (hesitation), but I’m glad I did it. I’m having a blast," Berard said. "It’s not something I ever imagined, but the challenge is what I’m up for."
So far, Berard has triple-axeled that challenge (That’s a figure skating move, right?). With only three pairs remaining in the charity skate-off, Berard has a good shot to win it all.
The quick and dirty of Berard’s career path: Memorial Cup finalist and first overall NHL pick in 1995; Calder Trophy winner in ’97; Olympian in ’98; victim of a devastating eye injury in 2000; Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner in 2004 in recognition of his against-all-odds comeback; first NHLer to test positive for steroids (unintentionally, he says) in 2005; stint in the Kontinental Hockey League in 2008; potential pairs figure skating champion in 2011.
"The best way to describe it is going from Rollerblades to roller skates—it’s completely different," said Berard. "Different edge, different everything. You gotta learn to skate all over, basically. You get used to it pretty fast; we’re on the ice twice a day. There’s still some good falls, and you go down hard, but I think that’s part of it. Every day you learn new stuff."
It’s been grueling, according to Berard. Four hours on the ice every day, plus another couple hours working off the ice on the steps and lifts with his partner, Marie-France Dubreuil, a five-time Canadian ice champion and two-time Olympian. The work has paid off considering Berard and Dubreil are one of only three pairs remaining heading into the contest’s finale.
We caught up with Berard to talk about the making the leap to hit the ice stick-free, the Do It For Daron movement, and what it was like to travel in the KHL.
Sportsnet.ca: Before this, when was the last time you tried something completely new?
Berard: A long time. Probably the first time I picked up a golf club when I was 12-years-old. I never thought I’d ever try figure skating, but I’m glad I did. I always liked figure skating, watching it in the Olympics.
I was impressed with (how athletic) they were and how they skate. If kids want to play hockey, I think learning how to figure skate would help them tremendously. You’d become a better skater.
Sportsnet.ca: How frequently do you fall?
Berard: The last couple weeks I’m doing some more challenging things, so I’ve gone down probably three times in the last week pretty hard. You learn how to fall, too. There’s no pads—that’s the thing you forget. Elbows and knees are a little sore, but other than that it’s alright.
Sportsnet.ca The lifting must come easy.
Berard: The lifting isn’t bad. It’s the steps in between and some of the moves you’re not used to. The lifting, to be honest, we just support the weight. The girls mostly do the lifts themselves; we just put them up. Their body positioning makes the lifts pretty easy. We just have to look forward, not look up at them, and stay firm on our feet.
Sportsnet.ca: Since you retired from hockey, what have you been doing athletics-wise?
Berard: Just staying in shape, basically. This summer I worked out a little bit, and I think that helped with my decision to come into the show. I’ve lost 15 pounds since the show’s been on, so it’s been good for my gut.
Sportsnet.ca: Tell me about your connection to the charity you’re skating for, Do It For Daron.
Berard: I started getting involved less than a year ago. I played with Luke Richardson. He and his wife, Stephanie, after their daughter Daron died by suicide, they started this. When I heard about it, right away I knew this was the charity I wanted to represent and raise awareness for. What they’re doing is very brave, first of all, and second, for youth it’s great. The more we talk about suicide or depression, the more lives we can save.
Sportsnet.ca: If you could skate to one song, what would it be?
Berard: I leave the music department to my partner. It probably took me a good three shows to even hear the music, hear the beats. I was just concentrating on the routine.
Sportsnet.ca: You played for Chekov in the KHL for half a season in 2008-09. What was the biggest difference you noticed in that league?
Berard: The league’s very talented. Out of four lines, the top two lines could play in the NHL for sure. Bigger ice surface, more European, Olympic-type game.
There’s not as much physical play, but more skating and more finesse. Just a bigger ice surface—not everyone realizes what a difference that makes.
Its’ really fun, a great league. For guys who are coming back from injury or getting up there (in age), it’s great.
Since the (NHL) lockout, it’s a young man’s game. Half the guys in the league, I don’t recognize their names anymore. There’s not many guys over 30 years old, so that’s tough for guys that get forced out too early.
Sportsnet.ca: When you played there, were you hoping to make enough noise to get back to the NHL?
Berard: No. My body was pretty much done. My back surgeries in Columbus put an end to playing an 82-game schedule, two or three times a week. It was a battle every day with the back. So the KHL, I went there to finish out, play a little bit, and I hate to say it, but make some money towards the end of the career.
Sportsnet.ca: In light of this summer’s tragedy, what did you notice about the travel situation in that league?
Berard: The planes are old. It was definitely a concern of mine. I’m not scared to fly or whatever, but when I was on some of the planes there, they were definitely old.
I hate to see what happened, but hopefully this situation—I hate to say it when it means taking people’s lives—means looking at the planes and making sure people travel safe, because they have the money over there.
Sportsnet.ca: So there were moments when you were actually scared?
Berard: Yeah, they’re just old planes, and they’re putting a lot of guys on there, a lot of equipment and stuff. It’s a scary place to fly.
And in the winter it’s cold, and the regulations are different over there.
