Bloomfield Hills

A true double threat

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Bloomfield Hills Unified senior can do it all, from in goal or scoring goals

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Today was one of those days where the trip from the ice after practice to the parking lot for the ride home would be a little quicker for Bloomfield Hills Unified senior forward Rob Berman.

After all, today was one of those days where the most difficult thing he had to remove was the athletic tape wrapped around his wrist.

Yesterday, however, after loosening his pads, taking off his neck guard, his chest protector, blocker, glove and other essentials, he was one of the last players to leave.

Such is the life of a goalie.

Such is the fluctuating schedule for Berman, one of the rare players in high school hockey who one day is firing shots in goal, and the next trying to keep them out.

A new opportunity

“I remember the first days of tryouts, when I saw Rob,” coach Rick Reed recalled. “After watching him, I figured if he continued to skate hard and he listened to how we coached him, he’d have a good shot at making the team. He had a real accurate shot, and that’s always a bonus for an offensive player.”

Then came the trick.

“A few days later, he expressed interest in trying out as a goalie, as well,” Reed continued. “Once he put on the pads, I was convinced.”

The rest is history — dual threat history.

“I’ve played goalie all my life,” Berman explained after a Jan. 19 practice from the Detroit Skating Club. “But I’ve played out — as a forward — a lot during roller hockey leagues I’ve been in. I wanted to try and see if I could do both.”

In four decisions, Berman is 2-2. The two losses have come to Plymouth Salem and Troy Athens — two of the best teams Unified has faced.

In five games at the forward position, he has eight goals and two assists. Four of those goals have been game-winners for the Unified squad, which was 5-5-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the Oakland Activities Association Division II at press time.

Advantage either way

Berman’s ability to think and react like an offensive player and the ultimate defensive stopper may seem a bit unfair, but he’ll take it.

“When I’m in goal, I can read the play and see it develop like I never have before,” he said. “When I’m playing out, I’ve got a good idea where to go with the puck to beat a goalie, based on what I would do if I was in net.”

The results speak for themselves.

When a little extra offense is needed in a given game, Reed dresses Berman at the forward spot. When it’s his turn in the rotation with fellow goalies Matthew Walczak and Bryce Henney, Reed has had no hesitation in giving him the nod.

“We have three good goalies, so I haven’t had to worry too much as to who’s playing where or when,” Reed explained.

When the season began, Reed admitted he figured Berman would play forward only a couple of times, but the first time he did, he notched two goals. The next game at forward, two more goals.

“And these were pretty goals,” Reed said. “I mean, these were sniper shots from the blue line.”

“He’s had some highlight goals, for sure,” said senior defenseman and captain Matt Andonian. “It’s been fun to watch him do what he has.”

As for the future

Berman believes he can play goalie at the juniors level after graduation, saying he knows he’s better between the pipes than between the red lines. But as for the near future, as tough regular-season games wind down to do-or-die playoff matchups, the decision as to where to pencil Berman in on the lineup card may be tricky.

“I hope to do both,” Berman said. “Depending on the type of team we play, I’d love to play goalie in one game and then maybe move to forward for the next — whatever’s needed.”

“Thankfully, I’ve got about five or six weeks to figure that out,” Reed laughed. “I’m not real sure what we’ll do just when that time comes.”

As for now, they’ll just keep doing what’s worked — for Reed, Berman and the entire team.


Some days, he’ll suit up in the bulky pads and throw himself in front of shot after shot, protecting the net like a prized possession.

Others, he’ll be a goalie’s worst nightmare.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.