NEWS

Former Buffalo Jr. Sabres forward Chris Berger (pictured 2015/16 with Buffalo Jr. Sabres - photo credit: Tim Bates/OJHL Images), now with the Des Moines Buccaneers, was named to Team USA for the 2016 World Junior 'A' Challenge being held in Bonnyville, Alberta.

The 16-year old native of Williamsville, New York spent the 2013-14 season with the Jr. Sabres Under-16 program where he was one of the top players and record 14 goals and 30 points in 36 games played.  He was also ranked one of the top 50 16-year old's in the U.S., attending the national camp, where he showed well with 8 points in 6 games played for his team, while earning a commitment to join the Brown University Bears program.

Berger joined the Jr. Sabres in 2014-15 and was one of the club's most consistent performers as a 16-year old rookie.  He finished second on the club in scoring with 38 points in 53 regular season games played, including 15 goals.  Despite his small stature, standing 5'10", 160 lbs., Berger was not one to shy away from the physical game and earned 74 penalty minutes, also the second highest total on Buffalo.  He would get his first taste of OJHL playoff action, suiting up in all seven games, notching three points, as the Jr. Sabres stretched the first place Georgetown Raiders to seven games.

That summer, Berger would be named to the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup held in Czech Republic and Slovakia and returned for his second OJHL season full of confidence, receiving a call to join the U.S. National Team Development program for two games during the season.  The 17-year old finished third on the Jr. Sabres in scoring with 19 goals and 52 points in 45 regular season games played during the 2015-16 season, while playing key special team minutes and recording 15 power play points, as well as leading the club with two shorthanded markers.  Playing with a physical edge, the club’s alternate captain registered 93 penalty minutes, which ranked fifth on the club and he was named a member of Team OJHL Nieuwendyk that competed at the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge (although was unable to compete in the tournament) and was named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect.

Below is the official press release from the USA Hockey website (www.usahockey.com):

Chris Berger (Buffalo, N.Y./Des Moines Buccaneers) has been added to the U.S. Junior Select Team roster for the 2016 World Junior A Challenge from Dec. 11-17 in Bonnyville, Alberta.

The 22-man roster, which is comprised entirely of players currently skating in the United States Hockey League, includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.

2016 U.S. JUNIOR SELECT TEAM

Berger has totaled 11 points (4-7) in 15 games played for the Des Moines Buccaneers this season and previously represented the U.S. at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.  

NOTES: Twelve USHL teams are represented on the roster. The Fargo Force, Lincoln Stars, Tri-City Storm and Waterloo Black Hawks lead the way with three players each … The 22 players represent 12 different states. Minnesota has the most representatives with nine, while Michigan and Wisconsin each have two … Marc Boxer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will serve as general manager of the 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team … Jay Varady (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City Musketeers) will serve as head coach, while JB Bittner (Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque Fighting Saints) and Chris Hartsburg (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Stars) will be assistant coaches … The World Junior A Challenge is in its eleventh year, and the U.S. is competing for the tenth time … All World Junior A Challenge games will be streamed live at HockeyTV … The 2016 field includes Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland and the United States … Team USA has captured the World Junior A Challenge title six times (2008-10, 2012-14).