Men's Hockey: Breakout sophomore a ‘gorilla’ on the ice

Fresh from an organic chemistry exam, sophomore forward Jack Berger of the men’s hockey team was relieved to hear that the interview questions would be much easier than the ones he had just tackled on his test. Enthusiastic about everything from his experiences growing up in a hockey-loving family with four younger brothers to his academic goals, it became clear that Jack embodies the “total package,” as head coach Bob Prier used to describe him.

Last week, Berger received recognition for his pivotal role on the Princeton men’s hockey team when he won the ECAC Player of the Week award.

“I was proud that he won Player of the Week because he had a heck of a week, especially scoring two back-to-back goals against Union that made a big difference,” Prier said. “It must have been very fulfilling for him, and it was fun to watch. It is quite a feat to win player of the week for the entire league. It is very competitive, and this was a great moment for him. He is still young in his college career, so he has time to win more.”

In the Tigers’ first 15 games, Berger recorded 11 points, with six goals and five assists. Berger leads his team in points and ranks sixth in the ECAC Hockey conference.

“Jack is our most all around player on the team,” Prier said. “He can play in all situations both physically and because he is extremely skilled. He has a knack for scoring goals. We know what we are going to get out of him at each shift; he is a reliable player.”

Raised to love the game from the time he was a toddler, Berger began playing hockey when he was four years old. His dad, Dan, played club hockey at the University of Missouri and was eager to share his love of the game with all his sons, whom he encouraged to start playing as early as they could.

An active athlete growing up, Jack also enjoyed playing tennis, baseball and golf, but he admitted that hockey was always his favorite.

“I liked how fast the game was,” he said. “It combined different aspects of a lot of sports. My dad set me up to like hockey the most, and I did. I am pretty much always playing.”

Berger says his young hockey career was nearly cut short when he was six years old because it was such a hassle for his parents to get him ready to go out on the ice and play.

“I used to be a little OCD about my equipment growing up,” he said. “I made my parents tape my clothes to my body so they wouldn’t move around. I asked my dad to tie my skates so tight that I would sometimes lose circulation.”

Perhaps the reason for this rather curious habit had to do with an embarrassing hockey memory Berger shared from his youth when his pants fell down in the middle of a shift. “I had the puck and had to waddle into the zone,” he said. “My parents like that story a lot.”

After visiting Princeton before his junior year of high school, Berger was sold on becoming a Tiger, saying that he was willing to walk onto the hockey team if necessary. But Princeton was the first school to offer him a commitment, and Berger accepted right away. After graduating from St. Louis University High School, Berger left his hometown to play junior league hockey for the Des Moines Buccaneers. During the 2009-10 season, he tallied 28 points and prepared himself for the high level of competition that he would face at the collegiate level.

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Skating in all 32 games of his freshman year, Berger sent two pucks into the net and assisted seven other goals. He said that his strengths on the ice include his shot and “gorilla strength.”

“Jack really pays attention to details well,” Prier said. “This helps him with his development. He is in the proper place on the ice, which makes the game easier for him. He really wants to be better and works so hard, and he is being rewarded for it.”

Sophomore forward Matt Farris, Berger’s roommate and close friend, said he admires the work ethic that Berger puts forth at practice and during games because it encourages the other guys around him to work harder and be better.

“Jack is a big, strong forward who uses his body to his advantage,” Farris said. “He is great at separating guys from pucks and protecting pucks when he himself has possession. He is a smart player and one of the hardest working guys on the ice that I’ve ever played with — you almost have to drive a stake through the guy’s heart to get him to stop.”

Berger said he values the close bond that the 26 players have. He credits the experience of playing junior hockey as one of the uniting factors for the team, because almost all of them come from a common culture. This year, three of Jack’s teammates also assume the role of his roommates. “It’s a lot of fun to live with these guys.”

“Jack is a great teammate or friend because he will drop anything to help a teammate out,” Farris said. “No matter what time of day or what someone needs, Jack will help them out without asking any questions. Also, he is a positive guy who always lifts up people around him. He is always smiling, laughing and enjoying life.”

Though they have different hair colors, Jack said people often think his roommate and sophomore forward Eric Carlson is his twin because they dress and act much alike. Farris agreed. “Any moment where Berger is getting ready with Carlson when they are going to the Street is priceless. They are probably worse than girls,” he said. “Also, any time Berger and Carlson act like gorillas is great. One night, they couldn’t get a coffee machine to work, so they started banging on it and making gorilla noises — probably one of the funniest moments of the year.”

Berger and his friends also mentioned that he has the longest ice-bath record on the team (eight minutes at 39 degrees). “I had to build up to that for three months, but I am proud of that record,” he said.

Initially stumped by the question of his favorite Princeton hockey memory so far, Berger settled on last spring’s annual three-on-three pick-up tournament with his teammates. He was named a coach, which meant he could draft his team and make trades. “They made me a coach to mock me because they thought I would be terrible, but we got to the championships.”

During overtime, Berger skated on a two-on-one but missed the net, and the other team rapped out of the zone and headed to the other side with an advantage. He back-checked all the way, but the other team got a shot off. The puck hit off the post, then off of Berger and into his own net to lose the game. “It was frustrating, but so funny,” he said.

A dedicated student-athlete, Berger plans to major in economics while fulfilling the pre-med track. He admits that it can be tough to manage it all but says that he enjoys it. “I don’t always get a ton of sleep, but it is manageable.” In addition to his courses and commitments to the team, Jack also is a member of the Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“Jack is a perfect representative of the hockey program and of Princeton University as a whole,” Prier said. “He does all things the right way. He is a mature and bright individual. He has great leadership qualities, and we are pleased to have him in our program.”

Before he had finished hearing the question, Berger started talking about his favorite NHL team, the St. Louis Blues. “Even though they are terrible, they are my favorite. One day, they will win the Stanley Cup,” he said.

As far as his own future goes, Berger hopes to play hockey for as long as he can before going to medical school. In a perfect world, perhaps Berger would be on the ice with the rest of the Blues, celebrating that first championship.