BERKLEY, Mich. – As this hockey season began, Richie Gardner was content playing pick-up hockey in a local men’s league.

Berkley Bruins’ assistant coach Mike Rumps, who had coached Gardner in the past, figured his talents were being wasted in a non-competitive environment and urged Gardner to make the jump to the Midwest Junior Hockey League.

Seven games and three assists later and the transition has been an easy one for the 19-year-old defenseman and native of Lincoln Park, Mich.

“I've played for Coach Rumps before, always liked him, and when the opportunity to play juniors came around, I couldn't pass it up,” Gardner said. “It’s also a great situation to play with guys I’ve played with before, like Julian Willibey and D.J. Gertsen.”

Gardner, who last played Midget hockey for the Plymouth Sharks (pictured), said being a fast learner and having a solid coaching staff and teammates in Berkley has been a privilege.

“I don't think there's anything I could say that I don't like about our team,” said Gardner. “The coaches are great, and are really working with me to make my skills sound, but what I like most is the teammates. We're building something more than a hockey team here. It's a brotherhood and I love playing with these guys.

“I couldn't see myself anywhere else.”

Berkley head coach Dan Pszenyczny has high praise for Gardner and feels he has much to offer the Bruins.

Richie has brought a steady, physical play to our ‘D’ corp and has come in and fit perfectly with what I'm trying to do with the team,” said Pszenyczny. “He's a smart, puck-moving d-man that plays with a chip on his shoulder and is a player that you would hate to play against, but love to have on your team, and I'm very happy he is on our team. As games go by, I can see his confidence grow more and more and he’s got the respect from the other players and shows that he's a team player. Richie is showing us that he can be counted on in any given situation on the ice.”

In his time with Berkley, Gardner has seen the team improve on a daily basis and moving forward, that is a situation that greatly excites him.

“We want to win and we want it bad,” said Gardner. “I get the vibe that we're looked at as an underdog, but we're going to use that to our advantage. Chemistry is going to be our biggest threat and we need to keep building on it. I'm new to the team, but the bond we’re growing as a team is unbreakable. I just want to do whatever I can do for the team to get those ‘Ws’ and keep getting better, learning, training, and adding to my skills.”

Gardner has a future goal “to take hockey as far as it'll let me go.”

“I definitely envision playing college hockey,” said Gardner. “It's been a dream since I was kid, and so has coaching. Even after it’s all said and done, I'd love to coach hockey.”

This weekend, the Bruins head to Decatur, Ill., for two games with the Decatur Blaze. Game times are 8:30 p.m. Saturday and then 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

All games will be available on www.fasthockey.com.