Brett Berard, the 22-year-old forward from the Rangers, has unexpectedly withdrawn from Team USA’s roster for the upcoming 2025 World Championships due to “physical restrictions.” This last-minute change has raised some eyebrows.
Reports suggest that Berard’s agents are currently in discussions with the international ice hockey federation and Team USA about this withdrawal, which seems to stem from what might be a relatively minor issue.
Fortunately, it looks like Berard will still be able to train this offseason, so there shouldn’t be any concerns about him missing training camps.
The tournament kicked off on Friday and is set to last until May 25th, taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herring, Denmark.
Berard made his NHL debut on November 25, 2024, and wrapped up the 2024-25 season with six goals and four assists over his first 35 games. However, he did have to sit out three games in December due to a minor upper body injury.
“It feels like I just moved into my apartment in Hartford last month,” Berard mentioned back on April 21st when the Rangers wrapped up their season.
He also noted plans to train with teammates Chris Kreider, Matt Lempe, and Jonathan Quick at Stanford’s Prentiss Hockey performance facility, aiming to return to the area at the start of June.
