Former First Overall Pick Detained After Scary Bar Fight

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Arron Murphy
August 4, 2023 (2:22 PM)

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Who is Bryan Berard?

The 1995 NHL entry draft included players like Radek Dvorak, Shane Doan, & Jarome Iginla. With the first selection in that draft the Ottawa Senators selected Bryan Berard. He would never actually play a game for the Senators, as he was traded to the Islanders in an exchange that brought Wade Redden to the Senators. He also played for the Leafs, Rangers, Bruins, and Blackhawks throughout his eventful and controversial career. Unfortunately his career heavily impacted after a devastating eye injury after taking a stick to the face on March 11th, 2000. This injury required 7 surgeries and was considered career-ending but Berard decided to continue playing for years after the incident. In 2006 he was actually the first NHL player to test positive for anabolic steroids. Berard is now 46 years old and was recently picked up by police on July 30th in Newport, Rhode Island where he currently resides.

The Details of the Bar Fight

Although we do not have access to the footage, Newport Daily News has disclosed that there is a video showing Berard and another man chatting, hugging, and then walking away from each other. While Berard is walking away, the man pushes him from behind, causing an immediate reaction from Berard who turns around, grabs the man by the shirt and urges him to settle down. Police claims the man had no idea who Berard was.

Berard was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He has a court date set for August 9th. He is hopeful that the charges will be dropped as he told reporters that what happened was a total misunderstanding and he wasn't aware that it was an officer trying to arrest him because of his eye injury mentioned earlier.

As Read On The Hockey News - "Former Blue Jacket Bryan Berard Arrested on July 30th"