Duncan product Ben Berard, 25, is an Abbotsford Canuck.
The 25-year-old has signed a one-year AHL deal with the affiliate team for the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, the team announced on July 31.
"I feel very fortunate to have the chance to play in B.C. so close to family and friends," he said following the announcement. "I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to play for the Canucks organization."
Berard played 36 games for Shawnigan Lake School's U18 prep team in 2015-16 and dressed for six games as an affiliate player with the Cowichan Valley Capitals around that time.
From 2016-2019 he was a member of the BCHL's Powell River Kings, captaining the team in his final year before moving on to play NCAA Div. 1 hockey with Cornell University, where he earned 68 points (32 goals, 36 assists) and 18 penalty minutes in 87 NCAA games.
Undrafted, Berard played his first full professional season with the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate Texas Stars in 2023-24. The 6-foot, 192-pound, left winger had a goal and an assist for four points and collected six penalty minutes in 30 regular season games. He also skated in seven playoff games.
Before turning pro, he spent four seasons with Ithaca, N.Y.-based Cornell University Big Red recording 68 points on 32 goals and 36 assists, and 18 penalty minutes in 87 NCAA games.
The Canucks open the AHL regular season in Calgary on Oct. 11 and then host the San Diego Gulls for the club's home opener on Oct. 25.
