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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal Impact Captain Patrice Bernier’s Re-Signs For Final MLS Season 

Bernier Celebrating_GOAL_MLS_Playoffs_2015

Stone Sports Management LLC (Columbus, Ohio) -  January 16, 2017

Stone Sports Management (“SSM”) is honored to announce that Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact have re-signed Patrice Bernier to a one-year contract, which will be the Impact’s Captain’s final season as a player, after completing his 2-year contract signed ahead of the 2015 season.  In these two seasons, Bernier proved his worth by helping the Impact to back to back MLS Playoffs, the CONCACAF Champions League Final and to its highest ever league finish. The 37-year old Broussard, Quebec native (who is one of only four MLS players born in the 1970s) will transition off the field in 2018 and continue with the Impact in a coaching role, primarily focused on developing and transitioning the younger players within the Impact Academy and First Team.

 

“I am happy and grateful to finish my professional career where it started back in 2000 and looking forward to my final season in front of my hometown fans and community,” reflected Bernier.  “I will make sure to appreciate each moment and to do what is in my control to ensure the club earns silverware this season.”

 

Bernier will play his final MLS season in 2017 and looks to lead the Impact to obtain MLS Cup glory after progressing each of the last two seasons in the MLS Playoffs. After a mid-season coaching change, Impact Coach Mauro Biello gave Bernier the keys to the Impact midfield where he would help the club finish the regular season with over a 2.0 points per game record and would go on to score 2 goals, including the game-winning goal against Canadian rivals Toronto FC to advance past the MLS Knockout Round (marking the first playoff series the Impact ever won in MLS).  After losing a close series in extra time to the eventual 2015 MLS Eastern Conference Champions Columbus Crew, Bernier would return in 2016 with improved performances, increasing his minutes, starts and assists.  Once again, Bernier saved some of his best performances for the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, including a world-class assist against Toronto FC in front of 61,004 fans at Olympique Stadium.  The goal for 2017 is simple – advance to the MLS Cup and lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. 

 

“I am thankful for the Club, Owner and President Joey Saputo, Coach Biello and the Front Office for giving me this opportunity, for their continued confidence in my abilities to help the Impact move forward, and I will do everything in my power to perform and give my all for this club, the city and its fans,” says Bernier.  “I hope that the Impact fans and community will join me for this last season because we will need everyone to support the Club to put the team in the best position to achieve our goals and finish off my career with a special season.”

 

After starting his professional career with the Montreal Impact in 2000 when they were part of the United Soccer League, Bernier would ply his trade in Europe. In 2013, he first moved to Norwegian club Moss and later played in four seasons with Trømso where he was considered one of the best foreigners in the league.  After a $1.3 million transfer bid from Turkish giants Besiktas was rejected, Bernier eventually moved to the German Bundesliga with Kaiserslautern before moving back to Scandinavia with Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland and Lyngby and played in 16 UEFA Cup matches throughout his European career.

 

In 2012 after playing the previous four seasons in Denmark with FC Nordsjaelland and Lyngby (including FCN’s 2009-10 Player of the Year), the Impact wisely summoned Bernier back to his hometown club after a 10-year career in Europe to be one of the club’s marquee signings during its transition to MLS.  Considered one of the best Quebec players the Province has produced, Bernier immediately showed his worth and earned the Giuseppe Saputo Trophy (awarded to the club’s Team MVP) with an impressive 9 Goal, 8 Assists season (including 4 game-winning assists, MLS August Player of the Month and selected 5 times to the Team of the Week (9, 12, 13-15, 24 and 25).  He followed up his debut MLS performance with a 4 Goal, 8 Assist season (leading MLS with 5 game-winning assists), and MLS players, coaches and media recognized his stellar play with a 2013 MLS All-Star game nod against Italian side AS Roma. In 2014, he proudly earned his 50th Canadian National Team cap against Jamaica and helped the Impact win back to back Amway Canadian Championships.


 The 2015 season also started brightly for Bernier and the Impact.  After advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League, the Impact would be showcased in the region’s top tournament after it surprised Santos with a 94th minute goal to beat the Mexican giants and advance to the CONCACAF Final against Club America.  After an impressive 2-2 away tie and going up a goal in the home leg in front of a sold-out Olympique Stadium, Club America came back and lifted the trophy. His current 5-year totals are 132 games played, 100 games started, 15 Goals and 24 Assists in over 9,000 minutes played in blue and black.

 

patricebernier imfc01 

 

“Patrice Bernier is a class act and represents the Impact in high acclaim on and off the field,” says SSM’s President and USSF Licensed Intermediary Justin B. Stone.  “I am thoroughly pleased that Patrice will be finishing his career with the Montreal Impact. He wears the Impact jersey with pride and wants nothing more than to close his playing career with an MLS Cup and will do everything in his capacity to ensure that the Impact fans and community is rewarded with one.”

 

Between his first Impact stint and his 5-year MLS career, Bernier will have played half his career (9 seasons) and participated in over 200 matches in Impact colors. He holds the Impact record for games played and starts for those who have played with both versions of the Impact (Pre-MLS and MLS), most Penalty Kick goals, most MLS assists and looks to build on these numbers in 2017. 

 

"“Many people did not expect Patrice to continue to play at a high level after turning 34, but he has proven those doubters wrong, proved his value by accomplishing several individual and team-related performances bonuses, and earned the right to play in his 18th professional season," remarked Stone.

 

“I want to give special thanks to Impact President and Owner Joey Saputo for creating the platform for Patrice and other Montreal players to be able to play at the highest level in North America, while also giving Patrice his due to compete in his final season before transitioning to a club role off the field beginning in 2018,” says Stone.

 

“Additionally, I want to thank Impact Technical Director Adam Braz for his efforts and professionalism during the negotiation and would like nothing more than to see Patrice finish his career bringing a championship to his hometown.  It has been a pleasure representing Patrice during these last years in MLS and will cherish the moments he creates in his final season and looking forward to what lies ahead for him beyond the pitch once he hangs up the boots.”

 

Off the field, Bernier is a community leader and donates his time to charitable causes such as La Fondation de l’OMHM, CHC Fondation’s FACE À FACE DES CÉLÉBRITÉS Charity Hockey match, Coupe Centraide Cup, Rèves d’enfant Foundation, Procure’s Marche COURAGE, among others.  In 2012, he earned the Impact’s Communitarian Award.  He has also been featured on TV, Radio and other Media outlets promoting the club such as Quebec’s #1 breakfast morning show – Breakfast Television, late night talk show Tout le Monde en Parle, Montreal Canadiens’ Broadcasts, TVA Sports and RDS commentary during MLS Cups and English Premier League matches.

 

Congrats to Patrice Bernier, his family and the Montreal Impact on continuing the Parties’ relationship in 2017 and beyond!  Click HERE for the Montreal Impact’s 2017 MLS Schedule to support Patrice’s final season.  Click HERE to view Patrice Bernier’s club-record 25 MLS assists.

 

 

 

You may contact Justin B. Stone by email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for more information. 

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About Stone Sports Management, LLC

From developmental to Designated Players, Stone Sports Management, LLC is a Columbus, Ohio based boutique agency representing football/soccer players domestically and internationally.  Led by President and USSF Licensed Intermediary Justin B. Stone, SSM has established itself as a leading North American agency since its 2008 inception by taking a cooperative approach to athlete representation, which provides increased opportunities for its clients. After gaining trust from clients representing over 75 nationalities, Mr. Stone has negotiated more than 140 contracts for his clients with clubs based in Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United States, including more than 15 international clients to MLS/NASL/USL.  


Follow Stone Sports Management on Twitter @StoneSportsMgmt 

 

 

Stone Sports Management LLC
629 N. High Street, Floor 4
Columbus, OH 43215 USA
P: +1 (614) 972-6037
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