The Wind Chill don’t have an All-Star. They have a couple. Sam Berglund and Bert Bergmeier, or, as I like to call them, the IceBergs, are two players on the 2023 roster who have stepped up big for this Minnesota team. They’ve gained league-wide attention, and rightfully so. With all these eyes on our Chill guys, we thought it would be a good time to dive deeper beneath the surface and get to know a little bit more about the IceBergs.
Sam Berglund:
“If I see someone going deep and my flick huck is open, you better believe that throw is going up.”
After getting cut from his sophomore baseball team, Sam Berglund found himself a talented athlete looking for a place to shine. He found ultimate and after a few years, ended up at Luther, where he played all four years. Berglund played for a couple club teams before suffering a hip injury that required him to take a year off. 2019 saw Berglund join the club team Drag’n Thrust. Since then, he’s been a key part to that team’s roster, alongside what would become fellow Wind Chill players.
Despite the fact that it’s his first year in the AUDL, Berglund’s success has been evident. His history as an elite player in the club scene has prepared him for the high-level play that the AUDL brings. Already in his first season, Berglund has racked up: 19 assists, 7 goals, 5 blocks, and 5 hockey assists (as of 7/2/2023). His ability to quickly transition on defense has fit in perfectly with pieces like Dylan DeClerck and the other IceBerg, who we’ll get to later.
But as we all know, Berglund’s biggest asset has been his pulls. Fellow IceBerg, Bert Bergmeier, commented on the pulls: “It’s talked about all the time, because it’s so true, how his pulls can change the trajectory/strategy of a game. It’s really impressive to watch his pregame pulls and see him start to dial them in. Come game time he’s locked!”
With an average flight time of 9.1 seconds, Berglund has been able to get his pulls into the back of opposing team’s endzones, lengthening their trek by a significant amount. It forces teams to quickly start their offense, oftentimes before they can properly set up. When you consider the fact that the dump pass is nullified on the -10 yard line, it's no surprise that the Wind Chill already have 3 Callahans this season.
Not only are his pulls excellent, but every throw on the field is precise and on point. He can squeeze a hammer through a double team, or hit a strike cut in the red zone. He can easily launch a huck, or slip a scoober past opposing teams. His whole arsenal is perfect for opening the field up and allowing Minnesota more opportunity to make plays.
On top of that, Berglund excels as a defensive handler. A number I want to quickly point out is the blocks. Berglund has tallied 5 blocks, several of which were in pivotal red zone situations. Berglund will not only pick up the disc on turns, he’ll be the one to switch the possession in the first place.
To put it simply, as our friend Brandon Matis says, “My quarterback will layout D your quarterback.” And that’s just the facts.
Bert Bergmeier:
“This year I’m playing more relaxed and confident. It has a lot to do with trust and encouragement from my team.”
It’s Bert. Look, I know that it’s technically Bret. But we’ve been informed by reliable sources (him) that he just goes by Bert. Unlike Berglund, Bergmeier is not new to the Wind Chill. He started on the team in 2021, and has played both seasons since. Before the Chill acquired him however, Bert was honing his athleticism and disc skills elsewhere. He played ultimate for the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and in his second year decided to join the club team Prairie Fire. This would prove to be crucial to setting Bergmeier on the path that would ultimately bring him to the player we know today.
“P-Fire players encouraged the hell out of me and cemented my competitiveness and drive in the sport,” he noted.
Bert elaborated on his club experience, going into his third season with Drag’n Thrust: “As a player, there’s no better way to push yourself than practicing against incredible players who all excel in different facets of the game, and Drag’n has that.” Bergmeier puts in work year-round, working out and training constantly to be the best athlete and ultimate player he can be.
All of this effort and experience has certainly paid off. Through two and a half seasons, Bergmeier has accumulated 29 assists, 39 goals, 21 blocks, and a completion rate of just under 93%. His defensive pressure has been felt immensely this season, with 8 of his blocks coming in 2023 alone.
Bergmeier excels in playing high-intensity defense, followed by high-intensity offense on a turn. Another aspect of his game is how intentional and calculated he is. Every cut and every throw is done with precision. His ability to command defensive points and turn them into offensive opportunities for Minnesota has been a major contributor to several of the Wind Chill’s wins.
It feels like Bergmeier has gotten his footing in the league, and now he’s ready to turn his game up and fight like hell for his team.
Sam Berglund praised his effort and drive, saying: "When he steps on the field he’s giving it his all until the disc hits the ground (insert clip of his goal saving second effort snag here).”
Looking to the future, he says he wants to help the team and the younger players develop more. His goals for 2023 are more concrete and tangible. To quote him directly: “It’s all about getting to championship weekend, baby!”
And apparently, according to Sam Berglund, Bert has one of the best “Hell Yeah, Brother!”’s out there. We’ll work on getting a sound bite for you.
The IceBergs:
For me, Berglund and Bergmeier have been stand-out and (daresay) crucial to the Wind Chill’s success this season. It’s no secret that Minnesota’s roster has been a little inconsistent. Abe Coffin was out for an entire month with an injury, Paul Krenik and Will Brandt were absent for a few significant games, and there have been a whole host of other absences or losses on both sides of the disc. With all the shifting, the team knew they would have to play adaptively, and trust in the system and each other.
The IceBergs both excel at this.
Both players credited the team and the system when asked about their success this year. Before the season started, I identified Bert specifically as a player to watch. In that article, I relented that Bert "does not get talked about enough, and it’s just a shame." My predictions on his season have aged well when I thought he'd be used just about every other point in nearly any situation. I promised Bergmeier would make a "consistent and noticeable impact," and I don't back down on my promises.
Look at Bergmeier’s quote from before, or Berglund saying “I’m someone who has bought into the team, and the systems we’re running… that’s the thing about this roster as a whole, that everyone from top to bottom is all-in and willing to step up.”
That’s the big thing about the IceBergs: they’re a good part of the team. They’re not two players who score 50% of the points in a game, and then come back and do it again next week. But they are players who have fit in so nicely to this Minnesota team. Each game both of the Bergs will be a part of 2-4 goals, and maybe get a block or two.
Here is where stats will fail you, because they don’t give you the full picture. There is no way to measure the impact of their energy or presence on the field. When Sam Berglund pins you in the end zone every single offensive point, how much does that wear you out? When Bergmeier isn’t giving you an inch to cut, and then burning you downfield on a turn, can you get that point back? Apologies for the easy joke, but the numbers for these two players is just the tip of the iceberg. What they bring to the team cannot be measured, but it can certainly be noticed and appreciated.
Game after game, the IceBergs cement themselves as two dependable and consistent pieces to this Minnesota lineup that is so hungry for championship weekend. They’ve stepped up big, and aren’t slowing down any time soon. So when the teams from the South, West, and East divisions come up to Minnesota, tell them to watch out for IceBergs.
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