KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Senior defenseman
Carter Berger will utilize his extra year of eligibility and return to Western Michigan for the 2023-24 season.
Berger was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2019 draft before heading to UCONN. He played three years for the Huskies before transferring to Western Michigan this past season.
Over the course of his career, Berger has played in 120 games, totaling 50 points on nine goals and 41 assists. However, he peaked in his first season in Kalamazoo, tallying 23 points on five goals and 18 assists in 33 games. His 23 points were second on the team among defensemen, trailing only
Zak Galambos (29).
Berger began the season on a three-game point streak, tallying one goal and three assists. He finished the season with five multi-point games, which came at Ferris State (10/08/22), vs. Michigan (10/29/22), vs. Miami (11/03/22), vs. Ferris State (12/28/22) and at North Dakota (1/14/23).
Berger was not only reliable as a defenseman, but he had a knack for stepping up in big games. Against eight ranked opponents this season, Berger had five points on one goal and four assists. Berger was also great during the team's seven-game winning streak between December and January. During that stretch, he posted seven points with two goals and five assists.
In just one year with the team, Berger helped the Broncos continue their upward trajectory. WMU peaked at No. 5 in the national polls this season and won 23 games. The Broncos also made a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, earning a No. 3 seed in the Manchester, NH Region.
"I'm excited to come back for my fifth year and get the opportunity to play another season alongside my great teammates as well as further develop my game under our experienced coaching staff," Berger said. "I am looking forward to building off our record setting season last year and striving to take this program to new heights. Representing WMU and playing games at Lawson is extremely special and I can't wait to get it going again in October."
