Jack Berry spends his time on the ice between the pipes, often facing a barrage of shots from the opposing team.
But the constant pestering doesn’t stop off the ice, either. After he leaves the crease, Berry takes his place in the locker room between upperclassmen Corbin McGuire and Tim Davison.
McGuire, a senior, makes sure to remind the freshman goalie that he’s still at the bottom of the proverbial food chain.
“I usually give him a hard time about every single day, just making sure he knows his place,” McGuire said. “If I ever need some clear tape, he’s the guy that has to go up and get it. I remember when I was a freshman sitting next to the seniors and I make sure to give it to him a little bit, too.”
But Berry hasn’t played like a skittish freshman this year. After sophomore goalie Matt Jurusik was sidelined with an injury for over a month, Berry stepped into the starting role seamlessly. In 16 games played, he has accumulated a .893 save percentage. Despite the persistent razzing from McGuire, having Berry’s consistent presence in the net has been a boost for the defensemen.
“It gives you a little bit of leeway in a game, you know that you’re not always reliant to make the perfect play because you know he’s gonna bail you out at times,” McGuire said. “So it’s a confidence thing. With his play, you know what you’re gonna get on a nightly basis.”
The transition from a backup role to playing regularly wasn’t the only seamless transition Berry made this year. After all, Division I hockey is a whole new animal, even compared to the top junior leagues in the nation. But goalie coach Jeff Sanger said that Berry is constantly studying film, both of himself and other goalies, which has helped him compete at a high level and adjust to elite college hockey.
“Coming in as a freshman from juniors, there’s a big step in regards to style of play, shots, getting used to your team,” Sanger said. “From that standpoint, I’m seeing him get more comfortable. He’s very quiet in the net, which is great for goalies. He keeps the holes to a minimum.”
Berry has now taken over the 1A goalie spot, starting every Friday night game for the last five series. Jurusik has played excellently since returning from injury and has started every Saturday game. The two goalies are locked in a battle that is virtually neck-and-neck at this point. But even with the pressure of a goalie competition added to the difficulty of performing as a freshman in the Big Ten, Berry continues to improve as the Badgers hunt for a postseason appearance.
“Halfway through the year, you’re no longer a freshman from the standpoint of playing,” Sanger said. “He’s played quite a bit. He’s progressed very well and continues to progress.”
Berry is also the only Michigan native on the Badgers’ roster. He hails from Holly, Mich., a town of just over 6,000 that lies about an hour north of Ann Arbor. The Wolverines will head to Madison this weekend for a rematch with Wisconsin. Berry’s parents will make the trek as well, giving the goalie a bit of extra support.
But, even though Berry grew up in the heart of Wolverine country, he was never a Michigan fan. He also wasn’t recruited at all by the Maize and Blue and knew pretty quickly that Madison was the place he wanted to be.
“[Wisconsin] is a powerhouse team and when I came out and visited it was like, the best everything. It’s better than some NHL places,” Berry said.
These facilities, of course, include the locker rooms in the bowels of the Kohl Center. And despite the good-natured teasing he receives from McGuire and Davison, he’s developed a close relationship with the two defensemen.
“They’re good guys to look up to, great human beings,” Berry said. “I can come to them for pretty much anything, if it’s schoolwork, on the ice, off the ice, whatever it is, they’ll be there.”
While Berry may rely on McGuire and Davison to have his back, the freshman goalie makes sure to return the favor on the ice, giving the defensemen reassurance that not every mistake will result in a goal.
“It’s in his nature as a person to be such a calming presence,” McGuire said.
“He’s just that kind of calming, quiet, soft-spoken kid, and that’s how he plays in the net as well.”
