With the start of the new school year, there is an abundance of new and unfamiliar faces roaming around Arizona’s campus. Arizona hockey fans should begin to familiarize themselves with the face and name of new head coach, Chad Berman.
Player development is an important emphasis for coach Berman because of his experience as a former hockey player. Berman said that as a young player, he idolized Dino Ciccarelli from the Detroit Red Wings. Berman said Ciccarelli was an undersized player who was successful due to his tremendous heart and work ethic.
“I was a late grower and always took pride in being the hardest working player on every team I played for,” Berman said. “I have always been someone who sets their mind to accomplishing something, and I find a way. I intend to do the same thing here and bring us a national championship.”
When Berman was playing in the Midgets’ league, he said a parent told him that he would never play Junior B. However, the following year, he did so. He went on to play Junior A in the North American Hockey League for the Springfield Spirit.
“This was one of my proudest accomplishments individually. I led the team in scoring after 10 games, so I mailed my stats sheet to the parent who told me I would never make it to the league lower than [the one] I was eventually playing for.”
Berman has six seasons of coaching under his belt as an assistant coach in Illinois at Robert Morris University. Replacing Sean Hogan, Berman comes into the Arizona program with great expectations and high goals for the Wildcats.
“I have always dreamed big,” Berman said. “If you focus on a goal and work every day to achieve it, you can make anything possible. To do this, I hope to set the standard of work ethic for the program. I don’t believe a leader can ask more from his players than he is willing to do himself. I pride myself as someone who is a strong communicator and is willing to go to bat for his players.”
Berman appears ready to take on our upstate rivals.
“My Robert Morris University team lost to [ASU] in the National Championship game, so … I can’t wait to play them,” Berman said.
Sophomore defenseman Alex Vazquez said he believes that Berman has the experience and drive to lead the Wildcats in the right direction.
“With his late start, it could have been tough, but Berman has seemed to take the reigns fast and move our team into the right direction,” Vazquez said. “Coach has been working on bringing our team together … and we all like what he is doing for team unity so far. I am confident in the upcoming season, and feel like Berman has what it takes to bring us a national championship.”
Arizona hockey fans should be excited to see what coach Berman and the 2014-2015 Arizona Wildcat hockey team have in store this season at the Tucson Convention Center.
Follow Zoe Wolkowitz @zowolko
