NEED TO KNOW
New York Rangers forward Brett Berard revealed his surprising offseason living arrangements in the basement of a six-person family home in Connecticut
Berard said the setup is “literally perfect” for him during the NHL offseason because he saves money and gets to spend time with his “second family”
Berard’s host family, the Fioritas, are huge fans of the Rangers and have supported him at games
New York Rangers forward Brett Berard’s living arrangements may surprise you.
The 22-year-old NHL player recently took The Wall Street Journal inside his offseason home in Darien, Conn., where he lives in the basement below a family of six who are huge fans of the Rangers.
During the NHL’s offseason, Berard lives with the Fiorita family, whom he connected with because his best friend Petey Alofsin was fraternity brothers with the eldest Fiorita son. Berard told Alofsin he was planning to train during the offseason in Fairfield County, Conn., where Darien is located.
“Petey’s like ‘No way, my best friend from school lives in Darien, you should talk to him,’” Berard told WSJ.
Despite being in the final season of his three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers, Berard said his arrangement with the Fiorita family — whom he joins for neighborhood strolls with their minidoodle and basketball games in the driveway — is “literally perfect.”
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty
Brett Berard #65 of the New York Rangers
Missy Fiorita, a longtime Rangers fan alongside her husband Paul, told WSJ she wasn’t sure the NHL player would actually move into her home.
“In the back of my mind, I was like, ‘This isn’t gonna happen. A Ranger’s not going to move into our house,’ ” she recalled.
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The family has attended many Rangers games over the years, including a few while supporting their athletic basement tenant, according to the outlet.
Missy said her “heart” was “100% in” when the opportunity to welcome Berard into their home arose.
Berard, who rents and lives in an apartment in Hartford, Conn., during the NHL season, said, “I could rent somewhere, but this opportunity came up.” He added, “I save money on rent.”
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Brett Berard of the Rangers on Dec. 23, 2024
Now that Berard has spent so much time with the Fioritas, Missy said he’s considered family.
“We were all on pins and needles, but as soon as he walked in the door, it was like, ‘I’m not welcoming this kid into my home for X amount of time. I’m welcoming him to being part of our family,” she said.
When they’re not playing with the family dog or competing against each other in neighborhood sports, Berard and the Fioritas are likely watching movies and TV on the living room couch or playing a game of Rummikub, the family’s latest fixation that even keeps them up past their bedtimes, per the WSJ.
Berard told the outlet, “Anyone that could would do this.”
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“I live all year by myself, so it’s kind of a second family away from my family,” he added.
Berard previously played hockey for Providence College for the team’s 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, and is originally from Rhode Island. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
Berard made his NHL debut the 2024-25 season when the Rangers faced off against St. Louis.
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