It's a good thing, too. Coping with the loss of 10 veteran players to graduation and the early departure of standout Patrick Eaves, BC isn't hoping - it's expecting - players like Bertram to step it up.
"I know that this year I'm going to be counted on a lot more," he says, "and I'm ready for that."
"We're very encouraged by [Bertram's] freshman year," says head coach Jerry York, who discussed the player in a media release. "He showed signs of being an exceptional player here at BC, despite his youth."
Bertram's size - officially listed as 5 feet 11 inches, 175 pounds - is deceiving. He's a strong skater who can stop on a dime, has a slap shot that turns heads, and brings tenacity to the ice that frustrates his opponents.
"He's a very skilled player with a lot of grit to him," York says. "He'll see a lot of ice time."
The Red Line Report compares him to a "nasty Steve Sullivan," noting Bertram's "great speed and agility" and his knack for handling the puck well in traffic.
"[He] erased the memory of a poor freshman season with a dynamic performance at World U-18s," The Report continues. "Throwing his smallish body around with reckless abandon, the guided missile propelled himself to a bushel full of goals."
Being a Leader
When he pulls on his BC sweater this season, Bertram isn't just looking to be a powerful forward.
"I want to be counted on offensively and defensively," he says. "At the end of the day, you can't have enough guys that want to compete at both ends of the ice.
"A big thing for me is being a plus player," Bertram says. "Being a guy who can be counted on to score goals, but also can be counted on to keep them out of your own net."
He wants to be a leader - both on and off the ice.
"The biggest goal for me is just to be a leader on the team," he says. "I want to be a guy that can be counted on during every game."
Off the ice, he's already begun reaching out to some of the younger guys.
Spring Break
