Bernier interview/update

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Jonathan Bernier has had quite a hockey year.

The 19-year-old goalie who will make his American Hockey League debut tonight for Manchester, started the season for the Kings and beat the Ducks on opening night in London, but his stay with the team as we all know did not last long, and he was returned to his QMJHL team in Lewiston for some additional seasoning. Bernier was also named to the Canadian team that won the gold in the World Junior Championship in January.

His early returns from Lewiston were less than stellar, and the young goalie admits to struggling mentally following his demotion. In the end, Bernier rebounded to have a fine season, posting 18 wins and a 2.73 goals against average and .908 save percentage.

Lewiston was ousted from its first round playoff series against Cape Breton in six games, but not for lack of effort from Bernier, who saw a barrage of shots against him in the series, stopping 37 of 39 in the final game, a 2-1 overtime loss.

Bernier chatted with us a few hours before his AHL debut with Manchester tonight against the Worchester Sharks. A Monarchs' win coupled with the Springfield Falcons loss tonight will secure a playoff spot for the team.

Bernier talked about his season with Lewiston, the brief stint with the Kings, and the struggles he experienced upon his return to juniors.

Q&A: Jonathan Bernier

Question: It's been a whirlwind time for you, just getting into Manchester following the end of your season with Lewiston.

Bernier: Yeah, I got in there Thursday morning for practice.

Question: You have to feel pretty good about already getting your first start tonight.

Bernier: For sure, it will be a good opportunity for me to show them what I can do, and even though I haven't played for an entire week I am ready for the challenge.

Question: How do you feel your overall game has progressed this year?

Bernier: I really think that mentally I grew up a lot. With everything that happened this year, starting in LA and getting sent down, just a lot of highs and lows I think it will help me in the future.

Question: Even though you've played a lot of hockey this year I'm curious if this game makes you nervous?

Bernier: I've been through a lot of things this year, up and down it was tough physically and mentally, but I'm ready for tonight. I need to be on my game and I just need to be confident and like I said I have to show what I can do and if they give me another game that's fine. I'm going to compete hard in practice and hopefully we can go as far as we can.

Question: The American League is pretty wide open. Are you ready to see a lot of shots?

Bernier: That's what I heard. There's a lot more scoring chances in the pros, but I'll just play my game and hopefully good things will happen. I can't really control anything else, so I'll just really focus on my game tonight.

Question: Tell me about your season in Lewiston.

Bernier: When I got sent down from the Kings I struggled for about three weeks and then I picked up my game at the right time and then I went to the World Juniors. I didn't really expect all that happened, but that's fine and I learned from it. It was fun to be a part of the World Junior team, and then when I came back I think I looked pretty good, especially the last month, and then in the playoffs I improved my game. I think I'm satisfied with how I looked in the last month, even in the playoffs even though we didn't go far.

Question: Some bad breaks in the Cape Breton playoff series?

Bernier: Yeah, you know it was a good series. I thought both teams were playing good, but we just couldn't capitalize on the power play. When you are 0-for-25 you aren't going to win a series like that. Overall I thought we played pretty well. I faced a lot of shots in that series, but I compare it to last year when I didn't face a lot of shots I think it actually worked out good for me.

Question: Any thoughts on why you struggled so much when the Kings sent you back to Lewiston?

Bernier: Well, my mindset was that I was going to be a pro and I think it was tough to realize that I was going back to the juniors, and when you get there it is totally different, you know, the bus, the food and everything just changed. It takes a couple of weeks to readjust yourself and I think because you just turn everything into a negative, even on the ice you don't expect plays to happen like that, but it does. I think that is the main reason why.

Question: Tell me about the early season stint with the Kings. What was that like for you?

Bernier: In my mind I was ready to stay there, so I wasn't overly excited to get the chance. I was mentally ready and I enjoy what I do, but at the same time you can't do too much because it is my job to do. You have to be there and think to yourself that you should be there and that is what you want to do and that's what I tried to do. I think it worked for the most part.

Question: The Kings seemed to have handled your demotion as diplomatically as they could. Do you feel it was handled well and did they follow up with you to see how things were going?

Bernier: They really did. When I came back to juniors after they cut me they were calling me about every two days just to make sure things were fine. Even during the season they were calling me every week or two just to see how things were going, and at that point I was really happy that they were taking care of me.