Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Sports
Former Blue Jacket Bryan Berard Arrested on July 30th
Former Blue Jacket and #1 overall pick of the Ottawa Senators Bryan Berard was arrested on July 30th. According to reports, Berard is alleged to have been in a bar fight in Newport, Rhode Island, Berard's home state.
According to the Newport Daily News, a video shows Berard having a conversation with another man ending with the two men hugging and then walking away. The other man pushes Berard in the back and then Berard grabs the man by the shirt, and that’s how the event starts. According to police, he did not know who Berard was and that he came up to the unnamed man and told him to “settle down,” right before the fight started.
The police report also says that Berard continued to swing his arms as an officer tried to handcuff him and take him out of the bar. Bryan Berard would be charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He has an initial court date set for August 9th.
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Berard told reporters charges are expected to be dropped and that what happened was a misunderstanding. Berard also mentions that because he is missing an eye, he thought someone was jumping on his back, and didn’t realize it was an officer trying to arrest him.
Berard played two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2005-2007. He would play in 55 games over those two seasons, scoring 12 goals and 35 points. In March of 2000, Berard suffered a serious eye injury after taking a high stick on a Marian Hossa shot, in which the follow though detached his retina and tore the retina as well. After signing with Columbus, he would suffer from back injuries and have back surgery. After his time in Columbus, he would only play in 54 more NHL before playing one year in the KHL and then retiring in 2009.
Berard also famously tested positive for anabolic steroids in November of 2005, which wasn’t revealed until 2006. The NHL couldn’t suspend Berard because it wasn’t given by the league. Instead, he was banned for two years from playing internationally. Berard would be the first player ever to test positive for steroids. He took full responsibility for the positive test.
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