Rangers’ Brett Berard pulls out of IIHF World Championship

Brett Berard will not be a part of Team USA at the 2025 World Championship over the next couple of weeks, after the 22-year-old Ranger had to pull out at the last minute due to some “physical limitations.”

According to a league source, Berard’s agent has been in touch with the International Ice Hockey Federation and Team USA regarding his client sitting out of the international tournament for what appears to be a minor issue.

Berard is expected to still be able to train this offseason, per the source. There is also no concern about his participation in training camp.

Team USA defeated Denmark and Hungary by a combined score of 9-0 in their first two preliminary round games before falling to Switzerland 3-0 on Monday.

Rangers forward Brett Berard has pulled out of the IIHF World Championship.

The tournament is set to run from May 9-25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.

After making his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 2024, Berard finished the 2024-25 season with six goals and four assists in his first 35 career games. He missed three games in December for an undisclosed upper-body injury.

“I feel like it was just last month I was moving into my apartment there in Hartford,” Berard said during Rangers breakup day on April 21. “If you told me at the beginning of the year that I would have played 35 games in the NHL, I’d take that as if it was a dream come true. It was special to be here. It was special to be around this group of guys. Came in, right away everyone made me feel right in place.”

Berard said he plans to return to the area at the beginning of June to work out with his fellow teammates, Chris Kreider, Matt Rempe and Jonathan Quick, at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Stamford, Conn.