Joseph Marc-André Bergeron (born October 13, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) before spending the later years of his career with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). Known as a power play specialist, more than half of Bergeron's career goals and points came on the man advantage.

Marc-André Bergeron
Bergeron with the Hurricanes in 2013.
Born (1980-10-13) October 13, 1980 (age 44)
Saint-Louis-de-France, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Edmonton Oilers
New York Islanders
Anaheim Ducks
Minnesota Wild
Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
Carolina Hurricanes
ZSC Lions
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2002–2017

Playing career

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Bergeron was signed as a free agent by the Edmonton Oilers in 2001. A swift defenceman with a penchant for end-to-end rushes, he reminded some of former Oiler great Paul Coffey. Bergeron's popularity with Edmonton fans was cemented during the 2003 playoffs when he sent Dallas Stars' Brenden Morrow head-over-heels with an open-ice hip check. Bergeron is well known more for his impressive slapshot than his defensive abilities. At the Edmonton Oilers skills competition, held November 26, 2006, he recorded his second straight victory in the hardest shot competition with a puck speed of 103.5 mph (approximately 165 km/h).

While still with the Oilers, near the end of game one of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, Bergeron tried to steer Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrew Ladd wide of the net. However, the two of them piled into Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson, causing Roloson to be injured for the remainder of the Finals.[1] The Oilers managed to re-group without Roloson but ultimately fell to the Hurricanes in game seven of the series.

 
Bergeron during his time with the Minnesota Wild

After parting ways with the Oilers, Bergeron went on to play with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild. On October 6, 2009, after star defenceman Andrei Markov was injured, Bergeron signed a 1-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens.[2] Bergeron proved to be a valuable component to the Canadiens, playing forward on the fourth line as well as defence on power plays. He did, however, suffer a long scoring slump between December 31, 2009, until March 31, 2010.[3] When Bergeron became a free agent on July 1, the Canadiens did not re-sign him.

He was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent on January 4, 2011[4] and assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL where he recorded two goals and eight points in 13 games.[5] Bergeron was recalled to the Lightning on February 5 and spent the remainder of the season in Tampa Bay,[6] and appeared in 23 games with the Lightning, recording two goals and eight points, including one game-winning goal. He recorded two assists in his Lightning debut on February 6 against the St. Louis Blues[7] and became the third player in franchise history to score his first Lightning goal in overtime on February 12 versus Carolina.[8] Bergeron became a fan-favourite and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals, against the Boston Bruins. On June 28, Bergeron was re-signed to a two-year contract worth $2,000,000.[9]

During the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Bergeron was traded by the Lightning to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Adam Hall and a seventh-round draft pick on April 2, 2013.[10]

On July 19, Bergeron left the NHL as a free agent and signed to a three-year contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL).[11] He won the Swiss championship in 2014 and the Swiss Cup in 2016.

After the completion of his three-year deal with the Lions in Switzerland, Bergeron returned to North America as a free agent. Opting to pursue another NHL opportunity, Bergeron agreed to a professional try-out contract to attend the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp on September 6, 2016.[12] He later signed a PTO contract with the Jackets' AHL affiliate, Cleveland Monsters.[13] Producing 9 points in his first 13 games with the Monsters, Bergeron secured a two-way NHL contract with the Blue Jackets for the remainder of the season on February 28, 2017.[14]

At the conclusion of his season with the Cleveland Monsters, Bergeron ended his professional playing career in the off-season, accepting a role as a director of player development with former junior club, the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.[15]

In 2020, Bergeron became the vice-president and general manager of the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL.[16] On June 22, 2023, Bergeron was fired from his positions.[17]

NASCAR team ownership

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In 2009, Bergeron formed a partnership with NASCAR driver Louis-Philippe Dumoulin to field a car in the NASCAR Pinty's Series for Dumoulin. Dumoulin, who won the 2014, 2018, and 2021 championships, drives the No. 47 as it was Bergeron's number during his playing career.[18]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996–97 Cap-de-la-Madeleine Estacades QMAAA 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
1997–98 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 40 6 14 20 48
1998–99 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 46 8 14 22 57
1998–99 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 24 6 7 13 66 5 2 2 4 24
1999–2000 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 70 24 50 74 173 13 4 7 11 45
2000–01 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 69 42 59 101 185 10 4 11 15 24
2001–02 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 50 2 13 15 61 9 1 4 5 8
2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 66 8 31 39 73 20 0 7 7 25
2002–03 Edmonton Oilers NHL 5 1 1 2 9 1 0 1 1 0
2003–04 Edmonton Oilers NHL 54 9 17 26 26
2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL 17 4 3 7 23
2004–05 Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay LNAH 10 7 5 12 6
2004–05 Brynäs IF SEL 10 3 2 5 72
2005–06 Edmonton Oilers NHL 75 15 20 35 38 18 2 1 3 14
2006–07 Edmonton Oilers NHL 55 8 17 25 28
2006–07 New York Islanders NHL 23 6 15 21 10 5 1 1 2 6
2007–08 New York Islanders NHL 46 9 9 18 16
2007–08 Anaheim Ducks NHL 9 0 1 1 4
2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL 72 14 18 32 30
2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 3 0 6 6 0
2009–10 Montreal Canadiens NHL 60 13 21 34 16 19 2 4 6 10
2010–11 Norfolk Admirals AHL 13 2 6 8 6
2010–11 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 23 2 6 8 8 14 2 1 3 9
2011–12 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 43 4 20 24 20
2012–13 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 12 1 4 5 4
2012–13 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 13 0 4 4 5
2013–14 ZSC Lions NLA 46 7 26 33 40 14 2 6 8 31
2014–15 ZSC Lions NLA 46 4 16 20 38 13 0 6 6 10
2015–16 ZSC Lions NLA 43 7 18 25 22 3 1 1 2 0
2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL 22 5 8 13 8
AHL totals 171 21 67 88 171 29 1 11 12 33
NHL totals 490 82 153 235 214 57 7 8 15 39
NLA totals 135 18 60 78 100 30 3 13 16 41

Transactions

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  • July 20, 2001 – Signed as free agent with Edmonton Oilers.
  • February 18, 2007 – Traded to New York Islanders with 2008 third round selection for Denis Grebeshkov.
  • February 26, 2008 – Traded to Anaheim Ducks for 2008 third round selection.
  • June 10, 2008 – Traded to Minnesota Wild for a 2008 third round pick.
  • October 6, 2009 – Signed as free agent with Montreal Canadiens.
  • January 4, 2011 – Signed one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning
  • June 28, 2011 – Signed two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning
  • April 2, 2013 – Traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Adam Hall and a 2013 seventh round Pick

References

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  1. ^ "Oilers lose Roloson for rest of the playoffs". ESPN. Associated Press. June 5, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  2. ^ LeBrun, Pierre (October 6, 2009). "Canadiens sign Bergeron". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "Marc-André Bergeron 2009-10 game-by-game statistics". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  4. ^ "Bergeron signs 1-year deal with Lightning". CBC. January 4, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Matiash, Victoria (January 6, 2011). "Thin Blue Line: Bergeron joins Bolts". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Fontana, John (February 5, 2011). "REPORT: Marc-Andre Bergeron to be recalled Saturday night". Raw Charge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Matiash, Victoria (February 9, 2011). "Thin Blue Line: Bergeron joins Lightning". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bergeron Scores In OT, Lifts Lightning Over Canes". CBS News. February 12, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lightning re-sign D Marc-Andre Bergeron to a 2-year contract". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. June 28, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Lightning send Bergeron to Hurricanes for Hall". The Sports Network. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  11. ^ "UFA Defenseman Bergeron signs three year deal with ZSC Lions". The Sports Network. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  12. ^ Ren Lavoie (2016-09-06). "M.A. Bergeron eyes NHL return". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  13. ^ Cleveland Monsters (2016-12-13). "M.A. Bergeron joins AHL team". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  14. ^ "Blue Jackets sign M.A Bergeron to two-way contract". Sportsnet.ca. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  15. ^ "M.A. Bergeron returns to the Cataractes". lenouvelliste.ca (in French). 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  16. ^ "Un pas de plus vers du hockey de la ECHL à Trois-Rivières". lapresse.ca (in French). 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  17. ^ "ECHL Breaking News Marc-André Bergeron fired by the Lions". insidetherrink.com. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  18. ^ Gallacher, Alex (February 28, 2018). "Getting To Know: LP Dumoulin". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
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