Don't forget these

As much as we like to use wallpaper images from an NHL team's website for Colin's team sheets, we've found these images work just as well, if not even better, for having a team's player sign an 8x10 for us.

Granted, you won't find one for each and every player on a team, but we're thinking this one for Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau, a Calder Trophy finalist, worked just fine during the Panthers' season-ending trip to Hockey Bay last month.

Now, if we could just do something about that scribble.

Next up: Panthers team report II

The Hockey Life: That was easy

Two weeks ago, we started ramping up for the upcoming travel hockey tryout season, putting Colin through some hockey clinics, spending more time out back in his hockey lab and talking about what this season might bring. In little more than an hour, he'll take that first step.

Going into this stretch, we figured he'd try out for three of the four teams within the Tampa Bay area. To us, we set a goal of looking for the best situation, one that combined solid coaching and a good all-around fit. As much as the next few years will likely define just how far he'll go in hockey, having fun is a major component of the plan.

As we started checking out the team's websites and began to receive emails from organizations, it became clear that two organizations would hold their tryouts at the same time on the same day. It seemed a bit foolish, I thought, to have this scheduling conflict. As a result, these competing times would lead families, such as ours, to choose to attend one of the other.

Over the next few days, we made a good vs. bad checklist for each group. We looked at distance to the rinks, perceptions of each program and, most importantly, the quality of the coaching. As we worked our way through this list, we began to realize there was no clear-cut winner. For every plus, there was a minus.

In a bid to break this so-called tie, I reached out to one of the handful of people within our youth hockey circle whose insight I respect. In a way, I was surprised by what I heard. Then again, especially as I digested this information, it wasn't all that surprising.

The second group's decision to schedule its tryouts, made after the first group posted its intentions, was a conscious one. It was a deliberate attempt to force families to choose, rather than letting them try to find the best overall situation by judging each and every program.

That's pretty arrogant, if you ask me. Then again, considering the people involved, I shouldn't have been surprised.

Really, though, I shouldn't complain. It turned a difficult decision into a rather easy one. For us, that group's way of doing things is 180 degrees from what we're looking for.

So, we made our decision and, in a few minutes, will be making a trip to a rink. Honestly, it wasn't that difficult of a decision. Hopefully, Colin puts forth a great effort and does his best. If he makes this team, so be it. He'll still attend another tryout in a couple of weeks, provided we don't commit should a specific invitation comes Colin's way.

It's more important to find a good fit, especially when spending the money, upwards of $3,000 when all is said and done. If he doesn't make either squad, or we don't feel comfortable with the program, it's something we won't lose sleep over.

Either way, he'll play hockey this fall.

Natural progression

Over the course of his young life, Colin has relied upon team sheets as his go-to platform any time he had the opportunity to hound an NHL team. At first, he drew them by hand, doing the best he could to match the team's logo, or used ones I made on the computer. In time, his artistic talents improved, but then we discovered using printed team wallpaper sheets.

These days, though, he has been using more and more of the wallpaper images for his team sheets. They're quick. They're easy. And with a 40-percent discount at Walgreen's, they're pretty affordable. So, yes, he's given up some individuality, but the reward is when you seal the deal with an item as sharp as this.

Of the team wallpaper sheets he has done this year, I'm thinking this one, completed on the Florida Panthers final trip to Hockey Bay, is among the best, if not the best, he has even worked. To me, the image, as well as the gold ink, makes this one pop.

Among the 23 Panthers players signing it were Calder Trophy nominee Jonathan Huberdeau, Brian Campbell, Tomas Fleischmann, Peter Mueller, George Parros, Shawn Mathias, Jakob Markstrom and Tomas Kopecky.

Still, nothing tops this, a true one-of-one for his beloved Boston Bruins.

Next up: Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau

Team report: Toronto Maple Leafs

Can't remember why, but I missed the Toronto Maple Leafs first visit to Hockey Bay during this abbreviated hockey-hounding campaign. That's likely the biggest reason why I had relative success, adding another 32 autographs as the team made its way to a morning skate in late April.

And once you add the 23 that Colin scored on his nearly team-signed jersey, we logged the third-biggest team haul of the season.

Beyond the two pucks (shown above) signed by Joffrey Lupul, left, and James Reimer, the rest of the haul came in cards:

Top row: Tyler Bozak, Matt Frattin, Jake Gardiner and Mikhail Grabovski; and

Bottom row: Carl Gunnarsson, Phil Kessel, Nikolai Kulemin and John-Michael Liles

Top row: Frazer McLaren, Colton Orr and Dion Phaneuf; and

Bottom row: Reimer, Ben Scrivens and James van Riemsdyk

Three Leafs players -- Cody Franson, from top to bottom, Nazim Kadri and Clarke MacArthur -- signed four cards each:

Up next: Florida Panthers team sheet

Want some answers?

Drew, an old hounding buddy from Boston, asked me to take part in one of his Wednesday Friendsday online interviews at his blog, Texas Graphing Chronicles. It was fun answering his questions, as it brought back many fond memories.

Nearly complete

Given the number of hockey jerseys that fill the closets of our home, I'm surprised we don't have more team-signed items, such as this one from the Toronto Maple Leafs, added to the collection. But, like most any other subset of our hockey memorabilia, it has to start somewhere.

Honestly, to call this Leafs jersey, which Colin had 23 players, coaches and a general manager sign, a team-signed item is a bit of a misnomer. Despite the numbers, it lacks signatures from two of Toronto's bigger names -- Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

Who did sign? Well, most everyone else, including Dion Phaneuf, James Reimer, Nazim Kadri, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Colton Orr, Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin.

As for Kessel and Lupul, it's not as though Colin didn't try.

Putting in a quick session before attending a hockey clinic, he asked Kessel to sign it before he boarded the team bus before the game. Kessel, who can be a little frosty, simply kept on walking, dropping of his luggage and then getting onto the bus, a good 15 minutes before its departure. As for Lupul, we never saw him.

Even without their autographs, the jersey is pretty special to Colin. Mr. Al, our buddy in Toronto, gave it to him a few years ago. We later added the patch, from the Toronto fire station where Mr. Al once worked. I'm sure he'll wear it next summer, when we visit Toronto.

Up next: Leafs team report

The Hockey Life: Mother's Day

For as long as I can remember, the Pinellas Police Athletic League Stars team has practiced, a pretty sweet tradition for Mother's Day. Before a game, either on the day of or before the annual holiday, the kids gather and give their mothers a single rose -- a symbolic gesture of love.

This past Sunday was no different.

Before the Stars' 6-4 victory in the Tampa Bay Metro League championship, the kids gathered in the rink's lobby to thank their mothers for all of their support -- from taking them to practices, clinics and games, to washing smelly jerseys and airing out gear to, basically, being their child's biggest champion. In case you didn't know it, a hockey mom's job isn't easy.

Some of my favorite moments within Colin's hockey have been watching Lisa watch her little boy play. I love seeing the pure joy in her eyes when he scores a goal. I'm proud every time her Momma Bear mentality kicks in whenever a penalty committed against him goes uncalled. And I sit back and nod in approval at the times she has gotten after Colin to start hustling (Listen to your Momma, boy!).

There have been times, though, when Colin forgets that his Momma is his biggest supporter. In a way, though, it's not his fault. He seldom sees her in her finest moments -- sticking up for him when, for any number of reasons, I've wanted to pull the plug on our little hockey adventure.

Over the past year or so, there have been times, based on less-than-stellar grades, forgetting to turn in completed homework for the umpteenth time, a continued lack of hustle or major steps backward in his behavior, when Colin has been told by yours truly that he's done with playing hockey.

To me, the opportunity to play hockey is a privilege. It isn't a birthright. In his case, Colin must continue to earn his ice time, even before he gets on any team, so he learns the value of hard work.

Yet, every time he has faced a suspension, so to speak, it was his Momma who pleaded his case and, ultimately, won the appeal. If that doesn't make her a hockey mom, I don't know what would.

And, that's why, beyond any flowers, brunches or presents that moms will receive today, every hockey player, no matter the age, needs to give their hockey mom a gigantic, game-winning hug and a well-deserved thank you for all they do. Especially, for the stuff they don't see.

Team report: Pittsburgh Penguins

Over the past few NHL seasons, I haven't made much of an effort to hound the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sure, their lineup is stacked with NHL superstars. Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin. Kris Letang. And, to some degree, Marc-Andre Fleury.

The only problem, for me at least, was that the team brought out bigger crowds, which usually means fewer autographs. So, after taking a break over the past few seasons, it was time for me to deal with any crowd and hound the Pens when they visited Hockey Bay in early April.

Honestly, the hounding crew wasn't as big as I'd feared. Surprisingly, it was downright manageable. I imagine, too, that Crosby's absence, brought about by a broken jaw, had something to do with the relatively low turnout. It made me wonder what I'd been missing.

And though the numbers weren't spectacular, adding 21 autographs to the collection, it certainly lowered any mental barriers I had over the team. The adventure started out nice when Brenden Morrow sign the pair of pucks shown above.

Also signing pucks were, from left, Fleury and Letang.

Signing cards that day were:

Top row: Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis and Tanner Glass;

Middle row: Jussi Jokinen, Tyler Kennedy and Douglas Murray; and

Bottom row: Brandon Sutter, Joe Vitale and Tomas Vokoun.

Also adding to the haul were Jarome Iginla and, much to my chagrin, Chris Kunitz.

 Next up: Team-signed (almost) Leafs jersey

Slam-dunk decision

Though I sometimes may questionable decisions when it comes to hounding, every so often I like to think, in borrowing a phrase from baseball, that I hit one out of the park. For instance, consider this puck signed by Pittsburgh's Jaroma Iginla.

Likely the biggest name that generated a headline at the NHL's trade deadline, Iginla joined a star-studded lineup in the Steel City. And, as far as hockey hounding is concerned, he only added to a target-rich environment any time the Penguins visit Hockey Bay.

When it came to choosing a puck for Iginla to sign, though, there was never a question about which one I wanted. The fact that he wore the team's third jersey in his Penguins debut was the determining factor and, if memory serves, was possibly the only one like it he signed that day.

So, in a way, it makes up for missing Evgeni Malkin. Kind of.

Next up: Penguins team report

Living with decisions

One would think that I would've learned by now. Greed, in any way, shape or form, seldom, if ever, pays off. Yet, once again, I failed to take heed of a pretty simple lesson within hockey hounding: given the choice, always go with the bigger name.

This latest incident, occurring in early April with the Pittsburgh Penguins in town, involved one of the team's big-name stars. No, it wasn't Sidney Crosby. He didn't make the trip, as his jaw was broken only days before. The player was Evgeni Malkin. And, unfortunately, it was a major whiff.

As Penguins players headed back to the team's hotel after a morning skate, Malkin was in a group of four walking down the sidewalk. As expected, he drew a crowd of hounds. As I made my way toward him, I recognized teammate Chris Kunitz. And, having a few cards for him, I switched gears, so to speak, and stopped him.

My assumption that I'd have plenty of time to snag these cards from Kunitz and offer up a puck to Malkin. Needless to say, I was surprised when I looked up to see Malkin, in a full-blown trot, moving past me. In hockey vernacular, I was caught flat-footed. I never had a chance.

Oh, well, there's always next season. Maybe, too, Crosby won't be hurt and will make the trip.

Up next:  Pittsburgh's Jarome Iginla

The Hockey Life: Different approach

For the past few Wednesdays, I've been taking Colin over to a rink in Tampa to participate in a clinic run by Stan Neckar, a former NHL defenseman. Like a handful of the other hockey dads there on those nights, I'll sit and watch the clinic, following Colin as he runs through drills and making mental notes of things to reinforce.

Hardly, if ever, do I say anything to anyone other than Colin. I do, however, make a point of listening to the chatter as the dads discuss their sons, teams, leagues and fees. Is it eavesdropping? Most likely. What do you expect, though, from a journalist?

This past Wednesday, while keeping my eyes and ears open, I heard that tryouts would be starting soon for fall travel teams. Of course, that piqued my curiosity. So, when I got home later that night, I started poking about Tampa Bay-area travel team websites. Sure enough, one organization is holding tryouts two weeks from today.

The following day, as I was taking Colin across town to school, I asked him the inevitable question -- did he want to try out for that team. I wasn't surprised, either, when he said he did. If I was in his place, I would've said the same thing.

For some time, we thought it would be best if Colin took a season or two away from travel hockey. Given last season's unfortunate events with the Brandon Jr. Bulls, we were left with a pretty sour taste and a deepened commitment to follow our intuition. To all of us, it was time to refocus on having fun in hockey, something that was in fairly short supply last season.

Thankfully, Colin has been enjoying himself with his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars. After a pretty long winter, and a broken collarbone to boot, Colin has had a blast wearing the Black and Gold, especially after winning today's Tampa Bay Metro League championship.

Despite hearing from knowledgeable hockey dads whom I trust and respect that the next few years are among the most important of any young hockey player's development, we'll be taking a far different approach as the new travel hockey cycle begins. Going forward, we're placing a far greater emphasis of the quality of the organization and the coaches.

That will be foremost in our minds as we make our way through the upcoming tryout season, with Colin casting a wider net with three teams. Even if he makes a particular travel team, we won't commit if we don't have faith in the coaches' abilities, don't feel it would be a good fit (regarding his teammates and, just as important, other parents) or have unanswered questions about the program.

We have no problems walking away if it doesn't feel right. If hockey isn't fun, why bother playing? Trust me, we won't make that mistake again.

And, if he doesn't make a travel squad, so be it. We've come to learn that we can live with that.

Lightning headlines

The Tampa Bay Lightning made two major moves recently, firing their head coach and trading away a popular player to bring in another unproven goalie. Each move, or so the story goes, was designed to right a sinking ship or solve a longstanding issue surrounding the team's goaltending woes.

Though I welcomed both to Tampa Bay and wished them the best of luck, I'll also bit my tongue when I had Jon Cooper, left, who replaced Guy Boucher as the Lightning's head coach, and Ben Bishop, acquired after the Lightning dealt away Cory Conacher, sign these pucks.

Honestly, I wasn't a fan of either move. To me, both show that Stevie Why? is still learning on the job, at the Lightning's expense, until the Detroit Red Wings come calling with their general manager position.

Up next: Missing Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin

The Hockey Life: Happy birthday, bud

Dear Colin:

As much as you wanted to open your birthday presents yesterday, even trying to play the Birthday Eve card on us, you're going to have to wait until today. Though, at 12, you may be too young to realize it, but one of life's lessons is that good things come to those who wait.

Don't believe me? You should. You're living proof.

Rather than rush into parenthood, your Mama and I decided to wait a few years after getting married to start a family. At first, we joked (well, actually, it was more me who joked) about having six children. You know, just enough to field a starting five and goalie.

Life, as it usually does, had different plans. Those few years quickly became eight. Those six kids? Really, all we wanted was you.

It was on a sunny Saturday afternoon -- a relatively warm for a spring day in New England, if memory serves -- when you entered our world. On that day, when we cradled you for the very first time, our lives changed. The transformation was just beginning.

In those early days, over the first two years of your life, it was a continual learning process. For me. For Mama. And for you. Every day, we were all growing together. In a way, we still are.

Now, as you enter your last year as a 'tween, it's time to start on the next segment of your life. Rather than living for the day, you'll have to start casting an eye toward the future. Nothing concrete, mind you, but trying to get a better idea of who you want to become.

It should go without saying that we'll do whatever we can to support your dreams. We'll applaud the highs. We'll accept any lows. That's what parents do. And, honestly, bud, that's the best part of the job. Some day, we hope, you'll get to experience this.

It's no secret, too, that hockey could be a big part of your future. I knew you'd grow up playing hockey, even before you were born. As a father, I was going to provide you with the opportunities I never had. And, as long as you work hard, those opportunities will continue.

That's a fair deal, isn't it?

Being realistic, however, is another part of being a parent. There is no shame in saying that your education, rather than hockey, will very likely take you further in life than this game. That's why I push you just as hard -- maybe even moreso than I do in hockey -- to get good grades.

Doors of opportunity, you'll learn soon enough, don't always open to a rink.

On this day, though, it's time to celebrate who you've become. Not with presents. Not with cupcakes. Not with pizza and games. Though they're all fun, that's not the most important thing.

What is? Let me tell you. I want you to know just how proud I am that you're my son.

Happy birthday, Colin McGonnell Saar. And many, many happy returns.

Love,

Daddy

Team report: Ottawa Senators II

Throughout the course of the lockout-shortened 2013 NHL hounding campaign, the temptation to resist hounding a team twice hasn't been too hard to overcome. Case in point: the Ottawa Senators, who made their second trip to Hockey Bay earlier this month.

If memory serves, it was the Senators who kicked off our hounding campaign, back in January. In fact, it was Ottawa captain Daniel Alfreddsson who signed our first autograph of the season.

The Senators most recent trip, however, didn't provide as fruitful as the first. All told, I added only 13 autographs, including the puck shown above, signed by Sergei Gonchar, and another from Hall of Famer Denis Potvin, to the collection.

The primary objective that trip, Cory Conacher, who was recently traded to Ottawa by the Tampa Bay Lightning, was nowhere to be seen before the game. I had a few pucks, as well as another item, that will have to wait for next season.

Still, getting any autographs is better than getting no autographs.

Signing the cards, shown above, were, from left,
Craig Anderson, Guillaume Latendresse, Chris Phillips and Kyle Turris. 

Jared Cowen signed these four cards as well.

I also added a pair of pictures to the collection:

Colin Greening signing a picture of him with Colin; and

Putting another magazine tear sheet, this one
of Ottawa coach Paul MacLean, to good use.

Up next: Tampa Bay Lightning's big moves

No confusion here

If you mention the name Denis Potvin to most hockey fans, they'll remember him as an integral part of the New York Islanders' Cup-winning dynasty. Or, if they're New York Rangers fans, they just might break out in an infamous chant that involves his last name.

When it comes to hounding, though, he's a must-have Hall of Famer worthy of adding to as many different pucks as you can get. That's why I had him sign this Ottawa Senators puck during the team's recent visit to Hockey Bay. These days, Potvin provides color commentary for Senators telecasts.

Besides, after adding him to Islanders, Panthers and Team Canada pucks, this was the only team left.

Up next: Senators team report II

Thanks, Dirk

One of the perks of working at one of the better newspapers in the United States is interacting with top-shelf colleagues. Those contacts paid off when Colin, representing his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars team, was selected for the second time in as many seasons to open an NHL game.

On Feb. 1, Colin served as the Lightning Dream Kid before a game between the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. On hand that night was Dirk Shadd, a talented photographer who routinely photographs Lightning games.

We'd told Dirk that Colin would be skating and he willingly offered to help us out. Just the other day, he handed me a thumb drive with photos from that night. Of those, I put together a gallery at my Facebook page. There's not too many, mind you, just enough to capture the moment.

Another friend caught Colin's skate on video, too. Thanks again, Eliza.

Team report: Florida Panthers

This was a day when hockey cards dominated the hounding haul. Of the 35 autographs that members of the Florida Panthers added to the collection, all but one -- a Saint John Sea Dogs pucks signed by Jonathan Huberdeau -- were hockey cards. And, honestly, that's not a complaint.

Like I've always said, the Florida Panthers are among the most approachable teams to hound in the NHL. While some may say that's because they haven't enjoyed much success, I prefer to look at it as they understand their obligation to hounds and fans.

Signing the cards, shown above, were:

Top row: Brian Campbell, Scott Clemmensen and Erik Gudbrandson;

Middle row: Quinton Howden, Jonathan Huberdeau and Tomas Kopecky; and 

Bottom row: Jakob Markstrom, George Parros and Tyler Strachan.

All told, five Florida players signed four cards each during their visit to Hockey Bay earlier this month:

Marcel Goc,

Tomas Fleischmann, 

Dmitry Kulikov,

Filip Kuba; and 

Peter Mueller.

The Panthers trip capped a four-team (Buffalo, New Jersey and Tampa Bay as well), eight-day run that saw us add 50 

Up next: Hall of Famer Denis Potvin

The Hockey Life: Remembering Boston

Though Colin was born nearly 12 years ago in nearby Weymouth, Mass., we've always considered Boston as his hometown and one of the special places we've lived near. To us, it's not the Hub of the Universe, as some people like to call it. Instead, it's the Hub of Hockey, the home of his favorite NHL player, Boston's Patrice Bergeron, and his favorite NHL team, the Bruins.

That's why we all had profound sadness last Monday upon hearing of the terrorist attacks during the Boston Marathon. To think that people -- cowards, actually -- killed innocent people, including a child, for reasons we've yet to hear, is beyond comprehension. And, to do it in a city already scarred by the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, is maddening.

I was not surprised, though, by the outpouring of support for Boston shown across the nation. It's one of the things that makes me very proud to be an American. You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. And payback, we learned later in the week, is a you-know-what, too.

After hearing what happened Monday, Colin wanted to show his support for his hometown, wearing his Boston Bruins Winter Classic jersey at Monday's practice with his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars squad. It was cool, too, seeing a teammate wearing a Bruins jersey.

Two days later, at an invite-only clinic (top photo) in Tampa with former NHL defenseman and Stanely Cup winner Stan Neckar, he wore his Bruins Bergeron third jersey.

Later today, as he wraps up his rec league's regular season with an eye on maintaining the league's No. 1 seed, Colin will follow Phoenix Coyotes player and Boston native Keith Yandle's lead and share messages of support (shown above) for Boston on his skates.

Just goes to show that you can take the boy out of Boston, but you can't take the Boston out of the boy. Yes, Colin is Boston Proud.

Scholarship winner

In my latest Bragging Daddy Alert moment, I'm pleased as punch to share that Colin was awarded a scholarship to attend a Summer Science Splash Camp at Eckerd College this summer. He was one of four students in Bay Point Middle's magnet school program to win the $250 award to spend six days and five nights studying electrons at the overnight camp at the college in St. Petersburg.

For his application, he had to write an essay about how he would benefit from attending the camp and how it would help him with school and later in life. His essay spoke of how studying electrons would help his design of a naval ship that would use waste-to-energy, solar and wind power as well as designing a skate blade that was lighter, stronger and would maximize the energy of each skater's stride.

Pretty heady stuff for an 11-year-old, if you ask me.

We know that his education will take him further in life than hockey, but we're doing all we can as parents to fuel each dream. What's rewarding, though, is that it was his own hard work that led to his first-ever scholarship. We hope, too, that it won't be his last.

And, finally ...

We received an email late last week, likely part of a mass marketing campaign, inviting Colin to travel to Georgia and try out for a team that would represent the Southeast at a Hockey Night in Boston tournament this summer in Haverhill, Mass.

Though we declined, as he is a year too young and, quite honestly, would be the longest of all long shots, we're using it to show him the potential opportunities that may present themselves if he continues to work hard and improve his game.

Put to good use

When I bought this Saint John Sea Dogs puck back in 2006, I thought it would serve as a nice keepsake for the team's first season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. But when I saw that alum Jonathan Huberdeau was playing for the Florida Panthers this season, I found a much better use for it.

Huberdeau, drafted third overall in 2011, signed it during the Panthers' trip to Hockey Bay earlier this month.

Up next: Panthers team report

Team report: New Jersey Devils

When Colin had his spring break last month, we did what any good hockey hounds would do -- we spent not one, but two days pursuing our favorite pastime. Our first adventure involved the Buffalo Sabres. The second, just three days later, saw us hounding the New Jersey Devils.

 

One of the hallmarks of the day's events was the diversity of items we received. Between pucks, a 17-signature team sheet (shown above), another magazine tear sheet and cards, including these two from Adam Henrique, left, and Adam Larsson, we added another 42 autographs to the collection.

Also signing during our day of hounding were sure-fire Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur and Scott Stevens, already in hockey's hallowed hall in Toronto. Besides a puck, Brodeur was among those signing Colin's team sheet.

And thanks to our good friend Scott, a Colorado Rockies puck that we have had for some time was put to use by former Devils goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch.

Rounding out the pucks were:

David Clarkson, from left, Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac.

All told, 19 cards were signed. Quite a few players signed four cards each for us:

Andy Greene,

Johan Hedberg,

Henrik Tallinder; and 

Anton Volchenkov.

 Here's another one of those magazine tearsheets that we used 

as a signing platform. Henrique signed this for Colin.

Up next: Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau