David Berard

David Berard
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamStonehill
ConferenceIndependent
Biographical details
Born (1970-10-17) October 17, 1970 (age 54)
West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Alma materProvidence College
Playing career
1988–1992Providence
Position(s)Goaltender
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1992–1994Colby (Assistant)
1994–1996Providence (Assistant)
1996–1998Lake Superior State (Assistant)
1998–2011Providence (Assistant)
2011–2012Connecticut (Assistant)
2012–2013Connecticut (Interim)
2014–2021Holy Cross
2024–PresentStonehill
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2013–2014Providence (Dir. of Hockey Ops.)
2021–2024Providence (Vice President)
Head coaching record
Overall103–116–37 (.475)

David Berard (born October 17, 1970) is the current head coach for the Stonehill Skyhawks men's ice hockey team.[1]

Career

Berard started his college career as a goaltender for Providence in 1988. He spent four years as a backup for the Friars, playing in only 5 games before graduating with a degree in business marketing.[2] He remained at the college level by taking an assistant coaching position with Colby, staying with the program for two years before returning to his alma mater. Berard was an assistant for the Friars for two more seasons and accepted a similar post from Lake Superior State starting in 1996. Two years later he was back in Providence for a third time but decided to remain with the Friars for an extended period. From 1998 through 2011 he was an assistant coach under Paul Pooley and Tim Army, but he also served as the teams recruiting coordinator for seven seasons, was promoted to an associate coach from 2003 through 2005 and was USA Hockey's director of player development for the New England region from 2003 to 2008.

When Tim Army was replaced by Nate Leaman in 2011, Berard was replaced[3] and he became an assistant with Connecticut. In just over a year, he suddenly found himself as the interim head coach for the Huskies when Bruce Marshall took a medical leave of absence.[4] Berard remained behind the bench for Connecticut for the remainder of the season, compiling a record of 19–10–3 and getting the Huskies into a 3rd place finish in the conference. His efforts were not enough, however, and Connecticut opted to name Mike Cavanaugh as the bench boss for the next season.[5]

Berard found himself back with the Friars yet again the next season as the Director of Hockey Operations but after only one year at that post he left to receive his first full-time head coaching post with Holy Cross.[6] In his short time with the Crusaders Berard has seen a moderate amount of success, recording three consecutive double-digit win seasons but only one of them was above .500.

Personal life

Berard's son Brett Berard is an ice hockey forward for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL as a prospect of the for the New York Rangers.[7][8] He previously played for the Providence Friars men's ice hockey team.[8][9] Brett was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th round (134th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[9] Brett won a gold medal with the United States men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[9][10]

Berard's youngest son, Brady, is a forward for Boston College.[8][11]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Connecticut Huskies (Atlantic Hockey) (2012–2013)
2012–13 Connecticut 19–10–3† 14–7–3† 3rd Atlantic Hockey Semifinals
Connecticut: 19–10–3 14–7–3
Holy Cross Crusaders (Atlantic Hockey) (2014–2021)
2014–15 Holy Cross 14–18–5 12–11–5 t-6th Atlantic Hockey Opening Round
2015–16 Holy Cross 18–13–5 16–7–5 t-2nd Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals
2016–17 Holy Cross 14–15–7 11–10–7 5th Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals
2017–18 Holy Cross 13–16–7 12–10–6 t-3rd Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals
2018–19 Holy Cross 10–21–5 10–14–4 t-8th Atlantic Hockey First Round
2019–20 Holy Cross 11–21–5 9–16–3–2 10th Atlantic Hockey First Round
2020–21 Holy Cross 4–12–0 3–9–0 11th Participation cancelled due to COVID-19
Holy Cross: 84–116–34 73–77–30
Total: 103–116–37 (.475)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

† Berard assumed head coaching duties on November 6, 2012

References

  1. ^ "Stonehill hires David Berard as next men's hockey coach". New England Hockey Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "David Berard Bio". Go Holy Cross. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  3. ^ "Former Michigan Tech coach Russell replaces Berard as Providence assistant". USCHO.com. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  4. ^ "Connecticut coach Marshall taking medical leave; Berard steps in". USCHO.com. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  5. ^ "Mike Cavanaugh Named Men's Ice Hockey Coach". UConn Huskies. 2013-05-08. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  6. ^ "Atlantic Hockey: Holy Cross hires David Berard". SB Nation. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  7. ^ "Wolf Pack Ink Forward Brett Berard to ATO". Hartford Wolf Pack. March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  8. ^ a b c Walker, Mollie (July 4, 2023). "Brett Berard has sights on excelling at 'next chapter' of career with Rangers". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  9. ^ a b c "Brett Berard". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  10. ^ "Rangers sign college forward Berard to entry-level contract". TSN. March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  11. ^ "Brady Berard". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2023-07-05.