Perry Berezan

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Berezan played two seasons of Junior A with the St. Albert Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) between 1981 and 1983. In 104 games for the Saints, Berezan recorded 53 goals and 129 points.[1] He was later recognized by the AJHL as one of its top-50 all-time players during the league's 50th anniversary in 2013–14.[2]

The Calgary Flames selected Berezan with their third selection, 55th overall, at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft,[3] however he opted to first play college hockey with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. In his freshman season of 1983–84, Berezan tied with Dan Brennan for the team lead at 28 goals.[4] Berezan recorded 52 points as a freshman, and improved to 58 in 1984–85 as a sophomore.[5] He recorded his 100th career point in his 75th game. At the time, he became the second fastest in school history to reach the milestone (Troy Murray, 50 games).[6]

Opting to leave North Dakota after two seasons, Berezan turned professional and joined the Flames late in the 1984–85 NHL season. He appeared in nine games with Calgary and scored a point in each of his first four contests; Berezan's first NHL goal was scored March 20, 1985, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[7]

Though an offensive player in junior and college, Berezan was converted to a defensive forward in the NHL.[1] He posted 12 goals and 33 points in his first full season, 1985–86.[5] He was credited with one goal during the playoffs following one of the most infamous blunders in NHL history.[8] In the seventh game of the Smythe Division Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Berezan dumped the puck into the Edmonton zone before leaving the ice on a line change. Oilers defenceman Steve Smith recovered the puck behind his net and accidentally passed it off goaltender Grant Fuhr's skate and into his own goal.[9] As the last Flame to touch the puck, Berezan was credited with the goal though he was on the bench when the puck went in. It proved to be the deciding marker in a 3–2 Calgary victory that also clinched the series.[10]

Injuries plagued Berezan throughout his tenure with Calgary. Among his injuries over his five seasons with the Flames, Berezan missed time due to a groin injury, broken leg, food poisoning and a concussion suffered following a hit by Edmonton's Mark Messier in 1988.[7][11] After appearing in 55 games in his rookie season, Berezan played only 24 and 29 games his following two years.[5] He had appeared in 35 games for the Flames in 1988–89 when, on March 4, 1989, he was traded. The Flames sent Berezan and Shane Churla to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Brian MacLellan and a fourth round pick at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.[12]

Berezan appeared in 16 games with the North Stars to complete the season and finished the year with a combined 51 games played, 5 goals and 13 points. He played 64 games in 1989–90, recording 15 points, and upped that to 17 points in 52 games in 1990–91.[5] He left Minnesota following the season and signed a contract with the expansion San Jose Sharks.[1] After recording 19 points in a career-high 66 games in 1991–92, Berezan split the following season between the Sharks and their International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate, the Kansas City Blades.[5] He retired in 1993.[11]