Staff file photo / Brian Yauger Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Brody Berard skates up the ice with the puck during the 2025-26 season.

If there’s one word that describes Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Brody Berard, it is “fearless.”

Despite being one of the youngest players in the USHL last season, Berard carved out a role on the blue line, bringing a physical presence as one of the team’s shutdown defenders.

Heading into year two, expect that role to only grow as the season goes on.

“I think Brody was on the bubble of making our team in Youngstown last year at camp. We wanted to bring him back in the fall and see where it went, and I think Brody exceeded expectations,” Phantoms coach Ryan Ward said. “He ended up better as the year went on, clearly physically ready. I think his biggest thing is his footwork and his skating. Brody looks good. We obviously know Brody’s a tough kid and has immense leadership capabilities, and I think Brody continued to display that at camp.

“He was a little banged up with an injury that he had at the end of the season, so he didn’t participate in any of the games (at the team’s main camp), but he was a real steadying presence, as far as you know, being a leader and making sure our camp went how we wanted to with our young players. He’s gonna be looked upon to step into that role to be a leader. His play has to step up, and we certainly think he’s ready to do that.”

Berard quickly endeared himself to the Phantoms faithful this past season with a rough-and-tumble style befitting the “Gritty City” moniker. Berard showed no issues dropping the gloves against players bigger and older than him, notably bringing down 6-foot-6 Green Bay defenseman Mace’o Phillips with one punch.

At 6-foot-0, 194 pounds, Berard isn’t exactly a physically imposing figure, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t someone to be feared out on the ice. And that’s exactly how Berard wants it.

“That’s just kind of part of my game,” Berard said. “Like I’ve always been a pretty feared player, very physical two-way (defenseman). I came in as just wanting to be feared. I’m not the biggest guy, so if you’re not the biggest guy, you’ve got to be most feared. That was my goal coming in the year: don’t play soft, be hard on every puck and don’t shy down to anyone.”

The Rhode Island native grew up a big Boston Bruins fan, but cited Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider as a major influence on his game for those exact attributes.

“He’s a two-way defenseman that obviously plays really tough, but he can also contribute offensively,” Berard said. “I’ve definitely watched a lot of videos on him and tried to model my game after him.”

Berard comes from a hockey background, being the nephew of defenseman Bryan Berard, the top selection by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL Draft. The elder Berard had a decade-plus long professional career, including a stint in Columbus, and has been a constant source of help, on and off the ice.

“I have a really close relationship with him. I talk to him daily. Talking about hockey, but mostly just life, really,” Berard said. “He’s helped me out with the mental part of things. He’s been through it all, through all the noise, the injuries, the 12 years of playing in the pros. He’s seen it all. We’re just talking about the off-ice stuff and how to mentally approach things, and obviously on-ice stuff too. I work with him in the summer. He’s obviously been a huge help to my development. And same thing with my dad. I’ve been working with my dad since I started skating, so I’d say my dad and my uncle are the two biggest people that helped me throughout my hockey career.”

Between his uncle’s NHL career and father’s experience in the Army, Berard has plenty of inspiration to pull from when it comes to leadership. It’s a trait that’s come naturally to him.

Back in 2018, a video went viral online of Berard — 8 years old at the time — talking to his teammates in the locker room at the end of their season. Their team, the Woonsocket North Stars, was purchased and would be absorbed into the larger Providence Hockey Club organization, splitting the roster up.

It was a tearful tribute to his friends who he battled alongside all season. It was also a perfect showcase for who Berard is as a leader, even at a young age.

“We actually showed that video in our locker room this year. It was a great video, and that’s who Brody is,” Ward said. “Brody cares about the team over himself, and that’s why he’s such a special player. Going into his draft year, he’s going to be relied upon to be one of our most important people in the locker room and on the ice.”

Berard committed to Northeastern University in April. But his focus is on the here and now. While admitting that the 2027 NHL Draft is already a looming thought in his mind, it’s not a distraction for Berard. It’s only further motivation to improve.

The right-shot defenseman just wants to do what he can to help the Phantoms be the last team standing at the end of the season.

“We came up short last year, so my biggest goal this year is to do what I can to help the team as much as possible to win,” Berard said. “Losing sucks. So my goal this year is to come in and get this team a Clark Cup championship.”