Former Ontario Junior Hockey Leaguer Nate Berke is the 2024-25 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Herb Hammond Co-Player of the Year,
The SUNY Cortland graduate student is sharing the award with teammate Ronan Mobley following a vote of the league’s coaches.
Berke, from Williamsville, NY, played for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the OJHL for three seasons (2017-20).
He turned pro this week, signing with the Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL.
Berke is a three-time all-conference honoree, earning first team honors this season and second team recognition in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. He skated in all 26 games for the Cortland Red Dragons, recording a team-high 39 points on 16 goals and 23 assists. His 16 goals were the most on the team and second-most in the SUNYAC. Berke’s 39 points are the most in the conference, and his average of 1.50 points per game is the fifth-highest mark in the nation.
He had at least one point in 20-of-26 games overall, including a five-point night in a victory over St. Anselm, and tallying two goals and two assists in a win over Curry.
Berke also became the 12th player in Cortland history to surpass 100 career points, totaling 111 points on 50 goals and 61 assists in 106 games played. He also became just the sixth Red Dragon to reach 50 career goals with a tally against Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC Semifinals. Berke was also chosen as the SUNYAC Athlete of the Week two times during the regular season.
Berke and Mobley join former OJHL goaltender Luca Durante as the only Red Dragons to claim the league’s player of the year honor, with Durante earning the award in the 2021-22 season. Durante played for Mississauga and Aurora in the OJHL from 2016-19.
