New York Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche has brought in a familiar face from his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, naming Jason Berger the team’s assistant equipment manager.
Darche said he first met Berger after joining Tampa Bay’s front office, where Berger had already established himself as a high-energy, highly organized member of the equipment staff. “He’s just full of energy,” Darche said Friday on The Jeff Marek Show. “I’ve had some players on the Lightning text me like, ‘Hey, you stole Burger from us.’”
When an opening in the Islanders’ equipment department came up, Darche considered candidates from inside and outside the organization but ultimately turned to Berger, who he said not only understands his standards but brings a unique spark to the dressing room. “He’s extremely organized and he brings… energy in the room,” Darche said. “Sometimes we downplay the role of these guys.”
Darche arranged for head coach Patrick Roy to speak with Berger before the hire was finalized. “Patrick spent like an hour and a half, two hours on the phone,” Darche said. “He called me right after. He’s like, ‘Oh my god, we need this guy. He’s my type of guy. The energy and… just on the phone.’”
In Tampa, Berger worked as the No. 2 equipment manager. His new role with the Islanders will be his first as a lead in the position. “Like me, I got my opportunity as a GM. He was the number two in Tampa and I think he gets the opportunity of being number one,” Darche said. “I’m excited to have him on board and I think the guys will really enjoy him.”