Rangers Top Prospect Shares All About His Childhood Friendship with Matty Beniers

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Joshua Deeds
September 14, 2024 (11:14)

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Matty Benier of the Seattle Kraken, and New York Rangers prospect Brett Berard, have a special friendship. It dates back to their childhood, as they played hockey together.

They'd play together throughout their childhood years, and build a meaningful friendship.

Despite both being a part of different NHL franchises, they spent the summer together training in Boston.

«It was awesome,» Berard said. «He's been my friend pretty much my whole life. I've been playing hockey with him since I was six, seven-years-old. We played on every team from that all the way until college. We were linemates for years, so it was awesome. I know how he works, it's just cool to learn the things he's learned in his first couple years pro and in the NHL.»

Following their youth year together, Berard went to Providence College and Beniers would ship out to the University of Michigan.

Their careers couldn't be more different.

Beniers was taken 2nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft and would win the Calder Trophy his first year in the NHL, and would secure a nice seven-year, $50 million dollar contract.

Berard's path may not have been so exciting or flashy, but has begun to be considered a top NHL prospect.

Berard was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft and would play one year in Providence and ship out to Hartford and have a promising season, scoring 48 points( 25 G, 23 A) in 71 games.

Berard could make the opening night lineup and make the next leap in his development.

Despite the teams they play for, and the distance the bond is never broken between the two.

Source: The Hockey News
Rangers' Standout Prospect Opens Up About Childhood Friendship With Matty Beniers