Career
Undrafted, On April 13, 2009, the Phoenix Coyotes signed Bernhardt to an entry level contract. He was initially assigned to American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage before he was reassigned to secondary affiliate, the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. On September 8, 2011, the Coyotes traded Bernhardt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Marc Cheverie. He was Central Hockey League club, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in the final year of his National Hockey League contract.
On September 26, 2014, Bernhardt signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with fourth tier German league club, ESV Buchloe.
Bernhardt produced 19 points in 15 games with Buchloe before opting to return to the ECHL in signing for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season with the Wichita Thunder on January 27, 2015. Bernhardt was unable to propel the Thunder to the playoffs however contributed with 30 points in just 28 games.
On October 11, 2015, just prior to the 2015-2016 season, Bernhardt"s rights were traded by the Thunder to the Elmira Jackals, he was subsequently signed to a one-year ECHL deal with the Jackals.