ECHL: Carter Berger Heads Overseas

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Jan 5, 2026 2:55 AM ET

Reading Royals defenseman Carter Berger is heading overseas to Slovakia to join HKM Zvolen after spending parts of two seasons in North America. Berger, 26, played in 23 games this season, splitting his time between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Reading Royals. In 12 games with the Phantoms, he had three assists. During his time with the Royals, he put up a goal and eight assists for nine points in 11 games. He is the first member of the Royals and Phantoms to take the overseas route since the 2025-26 season began. The North Vancouver native spent his first pro season in the New York Rangers organization. He spent most of the season in the ECHL with the Bloomington Bison, where he had eight goals and 25 assists for 32 points in 67 games. Berger also played in one game with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

View this post on Instagram

Prior to going pro, Berger began his career at the junior level, spending three seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies. In 154 games with the Grizzlies, he put up 41 goals and 67 assists for 108 points. He would add six goals and 21 assists for 27 points in 43 BCHL playoff games. During the 2018-19 season, he had 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points in 54 games, earning him BCHL First All-Star Team Honors. He led all defensemen in both goals and points. After finishing his junior career, Berger played five seasons in the NCAA. He spent three seasons at the University of Connecticut, where he had four goals and 23 assists for 27 points in 87 games as a member of the Huskies. His final two years of eligibility would be spent at Western Michigan University, where he had nine goals and 34 assists for 43 games.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: