Berra Back in the Big Apple

Berra is Back in the Big Apple

But this Berra won’t be playing for or managing the New York Yankees and his name isn’t Yogi.

RJay Berra, who ended his junior hockey career as a member of the Grande Prairie Storm in March, has committed to play for the Manhattenville Valiants – a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III institution based in Purchase, New York.

Berra, a native of Prince George, B.C., was traded to the Storm from his hometown Spruce Kings in January and played 16 regular season games with the Storm collecting eight goals and 10 assists.

He is the fourth former Storm player to suit up for the Valiants. Adam Young, who graduated from the Storm last season, is currently on the Manhattenville roster while former Storm stalwarts Jordan Menzies and Paul Prefontaine also toiled with the NCAA team.

The Valiants play in the West Conference of the ECAC.

Berra is the seventh player from the 2010-2011 Storm team to join an NCAA or Canadian university or college team. The list, besides Berra, includes Tanner Fritz (Ohio State), Dan Correale (University of New Hampshire), Jordan Forfar (York University), Derek Henderson (Simon Fraser University), John Girman (Acadia) and Andy Williams (SAIT).