Winnipeg Jets prospect not your ‘typical goalie’
At the tender age of 21, “old” isn’t precisely how one might describe Mikhail Berdin.
Then again, most of us weren’t classified as a potential pro hockey goalie at age 14.
Most of us didn’t have to make a life-altering move early in our teens from Ufa, Russia, to Moscow some 1,200 kilometres away.
At 17, most of us weren’t whisked a world away to Sioux Falls, S.D., where everyone spoke a different language, the rink was smaller and the only thing in common with home was McDonald’s.
By the time he turned 20 last year, Berdin was on his way to splitting time between the Jacksonville Icemen of the East Coast Hockey League and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League after aging out of junior hockey in the United States Hockey League.
That’s five new homes in seven years. It’s one hell of a way to grow up.
“But now it’s good,” Berdin said. “(My family and I) talk every day. At Christmas, my mom came here last year.”
So, not difficult.
“Nah, I’m an old guy now,” he said.
Mature beyond his years.
And, as he points out in the hallways of Bell MTS Iceplex on Monday, he’s cut from a different fabric. While other goalies might be learning the ins and outs of the game in their inaugural professional season, Berdin was learning valuable life lessons.
“I learned how to live by myself,” Berdin said. “I got older last year, that’s what I learned (from my first year in) pro hockey.”
Berdin’s quirks aren’t limited to his perception of them, either.
While most netminders are focused from the moment they get to the rink on a game day, Berdin will manually attune his head roughly five minutes before puck drop.
“A typical goalie does not talk much before the game, they practice before the game, focus more and think a lot about the game,” Berdin said. “They’re not laughing when other guys smile.
“I’ll drink a Coke, actually, before the game, I don’t care. I just enjoy it before a game. Spend good time. If I feel comfortable, I’ll play good. I think it’s worked for me.”
If last season was any indication, the team may want to monitor his sugar intake.
Berdin’s 23 games with the Manitoba Moose resulted in a 12-8-3 record and an impressive .927 save percentage.
The reports Jets coach Paul Maurice received from those working closest with Berdin have been good. Goalies are a finicky bunch, and Maurice prefers to steer clear — for now.
“I talk about their emotions and their mindset to them quite often. How are you feeling? Where do you think you’re at?” Maurice said. “Of all the stories in hockey, the weird things goalies have done are maybe some of the more interesting and maybe least professional. It’s popcorn, hotdogs on the bench — pizza — It always revolves around food, seemingly.
“If they’re stopping the puck, they get to have the mouldy sandals. And then if we feel they’re not stopping the puck, then we’d say, ‘Hey, maybe that two-litre gallon of Coke before you go, maybe that’s not working for you. We can change that.’ So we will intervene on any of that quirkiness based on performance.”
No changes necessary yet for Berdin, who wasn’t fazed by his first pro season.
“I didn’t feel nervous,” he said. “I felt good. I felt confident.”
Berdin’s goal is to play in the NHL. And while it looks like that will have to wait for at least another season, Berdin would rather not think about it.
“I just want to enjoy hockey and play my game.” sbilleck@postmedia.com