Er darf auch patzen
While his ice time 18/19 was the lowest of all regular defenders with a good 10 minutes per game, Berni now averages 18:26 under the new coach Rikard Grönborg. He has risen to number 3 behind Captain Patrick Geering and the Canadian Maxim Noreau. "That's cool," says Berni. "I can now apply a lot of what I've learned". "As a professional, you have to learn how to put up with something like this and return to your strengths," says Berni. "I went into the game against Ambri with self-confidence".
And if he plays bravely, then Berni is a factor on both ends. Then he switches on to attack, takes risks, and repeatedly frees himself from tricky situations with remarkable mobility. Then he can also defensively go for it, like against Ambris Johnny Kneubuehler, then he delivers assists and goals on the attack like on the 3:3 and 4:3, then he seems ripped off in bright moments like a veteran.
No question about it, the game winner was of course cooler than the check, says Berni, usual cheeky. The few words of short Trashtalk, always smiling, with Ambris Noele Trisconi after the 4:3, fit into the picture as well.
This is the Tim Berni he wants to see, says coach Grönborg. Then he'll forgive him for making mistakes like the uncontrolled pass behind his own goal, which stood at the origin of the second Ambri goal. "Mistakes happen. But I like that he tries things, not just wants to shoot the puck away," says Grönborg. "That's why we give him a lot of ice time, we want him to often get into these situations where he can learn. If we hold him back, he won't become a complete player."
Patience is part of learning. Defenders work is a 'high-pressure job', says Grönborg, "young defenders need more time in their development than forwards". And it takes curiosity. Grönborg has noticed how often Berni demands feedback: "That's the way the new generation of players is, they ask questions, they want to watch a lot of videos.
Answers come from Grönborg, but above all from Fredrik Stillman, the assistant coach who takes care of the defenders. Finally, the videos are presented by Johan Andersson, Grönborg's faithful companion and video coach. "With Tim we watch a lot of video," says Grönborg. "In order to make good decisions on the ice, to position yourself correctly even without puck, you learn that as a player above all with repetition - and with a lot of video study.
Berni, who spent the summer at the Columbus Blue Jackets youth camp, is being closely watched this season by the NHL organization, which drafted him in round 6 in the summer of 2018. Bernis goal is North America. If everything goes according to plan this current season, he wants to take the step next year. On this subject Berni takes a verbal defensive stance for the first time: "It's still a bit early to talk about it. First I have to play a consistent season with the ZSC.
Another recent article about Berni from a higher quality source. Sorry for the bad English, I used a translator (deepl, not google
). I did rewrite parts of the text but not everything. It's also not the whole article, just the more intersting half.
in six games. Wouldn't mind seeing an assist in there somewhere at some point.
