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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Flyers giving Berard chance to continue courageous story

When I think of courageous athletes, I think of Adam Taliaferro and Brian Piccolo. I think of Kevin Everett and Lance Armstrong, Jim Abbott and Mario Lemieux. Among others.

 

I also think of Bryan Berard.

 

Berard, as you may recall, was accidentally hit by the stick of Ottawa's Marian Hossa in 2000. It was a gruesome scene, with blood staining the ice and Berard being raced to the hospital.

 

Berard nearly lost his right eye in the accident; he underwent seven eye operations and, to his credit, returned to the NHL _ and gave back his $6.5 million insurance settlement.

 

Think about that.

 

And, now, at 31, he will be trying to earn a spot on the Flyers' young defense in training camp next month.

 

Berard doesn't have the skill he possessed when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 draft, but no one can question his character.

 

His presence will add some intrigue to what promises to be an interesting Flyers training camp.

 

I wrote about Berard in today's Inquirer.

 

Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 5:34 PM  Permalink | 10 comments
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Comments
Posted by john ullman 09:12 PM, 08/26/2008
I am all for amazing come back stoories and this sounds like one in progress...
Posted by CROSSI 08:38 AM, 08/27/2008
I said it yesterday, I hope he has a great camp and makes the team. You can not have enough character guys on your team..The fact that he wanted to play so bad he handed back 6.5 million, says it all!!
Posted by Big Game 08:39 AM, 08/27/2008
He's a great comeback story for sure. As far as his play, he's got some good offensive skill. His defensive game is average at best. Should be interesting to see him compete for a spot. If not with the Flyers, hopefully he lands on another NHL team.
Posted by dan19148 10:01 AM, 08/27/2008
Good luck.
Posted by uncle meat 12:12 PM, 08/27/2008
We can always use another good blue-liner...Best of luck Bryan! Break a leg....or maybe not....
Posted by Phillymike77 03:11 PM, 08/27/2008
He has been back in the league for 6 years since his injury, I'd say he completed the comeback. I'll admit he is not the same player he was early in this career, but I'll be rooting for him. And we need all the help we can get on defense.
Posted by schultz08 06:01 AM, 08/28/2008
I think it's a great story about Berard but where is the money coming from? The Flyers are already close to the cap.
Posted by tc083069 08:29 AM, 08/28/2008
This would be a great addition to the blue line....especially on the PP.
Posted by Yankee Air Pirate 12 03:27 PM, 08/28/2008
Saw him play at the World Juniors,great player,wouldn't mind seeing him here.
Posted by DEREK71 09:23 AM, 09/02/2008
BERARD IS A CLASS GUY AND WOULD MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TEAM
10 comments
About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi, who has covered primarily South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies for three decades, is in his first year as the Flyers’ beat writer. He has followed the Flyers since their inception in 1967-68, and remembers when only the third periods of their games were broadcast on the radio - just seven years before they became the city's most popular franchise.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah, N.J., with his wife, JoAnn, and he is a passionate sports fan of the colleges attended by his daughter, Sara (tiny Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland, which qualified for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament last season and is unbeaten in football since 1951) and his son, Sammy (West Virginia, an annual challenger for the nation’s No. 1 ranking in football and men’s basketball).
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