Daniel Berthiaume

Daniel J. Berthiaume (born January 26, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played six seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, and Ottawa Senators.

Playing career

Known as "The Bandit" during his hockey career, Berthiaume was a standout goaltender in junior hockey, playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. During the 1984-85 season, Berthiaume won 40 games for the Saguenéens, a feat made more impressive in that the team won 41 games that season.

Following this impressive year, he was drafted 60th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. After his final year of junior hockey, he made his NHL debut that spring during the playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets faced the Calgary Flames in the first round. Veteran goaltender Dan Bouchard started Game 1, but was relieved by Brian Hayward after giving up five goals. Hayward started Game 2 but after surrendering six goals, he was yanked, and Marc Behrend finished up the game. For Game 3, with the Jets on the brink of elimination, Berthiaume made his NHL debut and dazzled, making 39 saves before ultimately losing in overtime when Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald found the back of the net.

In the offseason, the Jets acquired Steve Penney from the Montreal Canadiens. Penney was expected to be their starter, but Berthiaume and fellow rookie Eldon "Pokey" Reddick seized the job and formed a solid platoon, known as "Pokey and the Bandit" playing on the popular movie series Smokey and the Bandit. Berthiaume posted an impressive 18-7-3 record in 31 games during his rookie NHL season of 1986-87. During his second season in the NHL, Berthiaume assumed the starting job in Winnipeg and posted a career-best 22 wins. The following season, he struggled and spent the bulk of the year toiling in the minors; Reddick took over the starting job with the Jets, supported by veteran Alain Chevrier and rookie Bob Essensa. Berthiaume was back with the Jets for the 1989-90 season, but Essensa was then the club's starter.

Berthiaume came under fire for allegedly swearing at children seeking his autograph. On January 22, 1990, he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for future considerations. Mike Smith, general manager of the Jets, said Berthiaume's trade was related to his off-ice actions. The goalie apologized on television for swearing at autograph seekers, then a day later denied the incident took place and said he had been ordered to apologize by team management.

Minnesota North Stars

Goaltender Jon Casey handled the bulk of the duties for the North Stars, so Berthiuame appeared in just five games for Minnesota, managing just one win and a mediocre 3.50 goals against average. Prior totraining camp in 1990, Berthiaume was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Craig Duncanson.

Los Angeles Kings

With the Kings, Berthiaume served as the backup to veteran Kelly Hrudey and performed well enough to win 20 games. His improved play didn't last, and he struggled the next season, 1991–92, posting a 4.04 goals against average while managing just seven wins in 19 appearances. His uneven play cost him his job and he was shipped to Boston for future considerations on January 18, 1992.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins had Andy Moog firmly entrenched in their starter role with veteran Réjean Lemelin as his backup. When Lemelin suffered a groin injury, they were in need of some depth. The Bruins brought in Berthiaume but he did little to help, winning just one of eight starts for Boston. During the offseason, the Bruins traded him back to Winnipeg for Doug Evans.

Europe and the Ottawa Senators

Berthiaume started the 1992-93 season playing for EC Graz in the Austria, but on December 15, 1992, he signed as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators. The first-year Senators leaned heavily on goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz and while he faired admirably considering the heavy fire he took each night in their crease, his back-up, veteran Steve Weeks, was horribly over-matched posting a 7.23 goals against average. Berthiaume was brought in to backup Sidorkiewicz. He appeared in 25 games posting a 2-17-1 record for the lowly Senators. In the off-season, the Senators upgraded their goaltending by acquiring Craig Billington and they promoted rookie Darrin Madeley which pushed Berthiaume out of the crease. He made one appearance for Ottawa in the 1993-94 season and though it lasted just one minute, he surrendered two goals on two shots giving him a 120.00 goals against average for the season and zero save percentage. Late in the season he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Steve Konroyd, but he never suited up for the club making his final NHL appearance his 30 second stint for the Senators earlier that year.

In all, Berthiaume played in a total of 215 regular season NHL games during his career, posting a record of 81-91-21 with a goals against average of 3.67. He also appeared in 14 NHL playoff games, all with Winnipeg.

Minor Leagues

After making his final NHL appearance with the Ottawa Senators during the 1993-94 season, he spent most of the remainder of his career in the ECHL with the Roanoke Express, where he spent seven seasons in three stints and often split duties with Dave Gagnon. He also played for the ECHL's Wheeling Thunderbirds, the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League, and the Central Texas Stampede of the WPHL where he won the Most Outstanding Goaltender honours for the 1996-97 season. He played his last season with the Port Huron Beacons of the United Hockey League before retiring in 2005.

Berthiaume also played professional roller hockey, tending goal for Roller Hockey International's New Jersey Rockin' Rollers in 1994, Motor City Mustangs in 1995, and Philadelphia Bulldogs in 1996.

Coaching career

Berthiaume was the assistant coach of the Roanoke Valley Vipers in the United Hockey League at the start of their 2005-06 season., but on February 6, 2006 it was announced that Berthiaume would become the head coach, replacing Jim Wiley who lost his job in mid-season. He then coached the Virginia Military Institute Hockey team.

Personal life

Berthiaume currently lives in Hardy, Virginia, where he owns and operates ''Captain Bert's Fishin' Charters'' on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, a freshwater striped bass fishery. He is married and has three sons. Alongside this he coaches the local youth hockey team.

Awards

*1996-97: Outstanding Goaltender ( WPHL)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

References

External links

*
Captain Bert's Fishing Charters

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berthiaume, Daniel
1966 births
Living people
Adirondack Red Wings players
Boston Bruins players
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Central Texas Stampede players
Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) players
Detroit Vipers players
Drummondville Voltigeurs players
EC Graz players
Greensboro Generals players
Los Angeles Kings players
Minnesota North Stars players
Moncton Hawks players
Motor City Mustangs players
New Jersey Rockin' Rollers players
Ottawa Senators players
Ice hockey people from Longueuil
Port Huron Beacons players
Philadelphia Bulldogs players
Prince Edward Island Senators players
Providence Bruins players
Roanoke Express players
Sherbrooke Canadiens players
Wheeling Thunderbirds players
Winnipeg Jets (1979–1996) draft picks
Winnipeg Jets (1979–1996) players
20th-century Canadian sportsmen
Canadian inline hockey players