Bernier: From Basement Freezer to Cup Champion I FEATURE

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Jonathan Bernier | Speak of the Devils
Jonathan Bernier's life trajectory to becoming a goaltender is similar to a lot of other goaltenders. It all starts with a big brother.
"I had an older brother and he needed a goalie," Bernier told the Speak of the Devils podcast. So, Bernier was forced to suit up so that his elder sibling could practice.
"I was the little guy so I had to go in net because he needed someone to shoot at," Bernier, 33, said. "We would play in the basement. Our net was the freezer in our basement. It was white but by the time we were 14 or 15 (years old) it was all black."
Though Bernier moonlighted as a goalie for his brother, he actually began playing as a defenseman in youth hockey. But he didn't remind anyone of Bobby Orr.
"I started as a D-man but wouldn't leave the top circle in my own zone," he laughed. "So my dad said, 'I think you should try to be a goalie.' One game we didn't have a goalie and I went in and never took the pads off."

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There is a picture of Bernier with those pads on attending a goalie camp at the age of 10 or 11. But what made this camp, and picture, so special was that It featured three of his boyhood idols. "All the (NHL) goalies were taking pictures. The three goalies there to take pictures with the kids was Marty (Brodeur), (Jose) Theodore and (Roberto) Luongo," Bernier recalled. "I have the picture hanging on my wall. Only me and the photographer have that picture."
Bernier would go on to have a successful career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Lewiston. In fact, he performed so well that the Los Angeles Kings chose him in the first round (11th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft.
At the age of 19, Bernier would make his NHL debut in September 2007. But it was no ordinary debut, as it took place overseas in London, England.
"We won against the defending champion Anaheim Ducks and I had my first start," said Bernier, who made 26 saves in the 4-1 victory. "So it was a pretty good debut."
Though, there is one sore point that sticks out the Bernier.
"Losing my shutout in the third against Bobby Ryan," he laughed. "He still gives it to me. It was his first game, too."
A few years later of course, Bernier, who is six games shy of playing in 400 career NHL games, would be a member of the Kings 2012 Stanley Cup championship squad, which bested New Jersey in a six-game series. It was at the conclusion of that series though, that Bernier would add another piece of memorabilia from his idol.
"Obviously, Marty was a big part of me being a goalie," Bernier said. "He was kind enough the year we won when I was in LA he gave me his stick. I waited until Game 6. He was kind enough after a loss to give me his stick. That was pretty special."