When Jonathan Bernier wanders into the MasterCard Centre for the first time later this month, he’ll be entering the great unknown.

Outside of a brief tenure on a Team Canada world championship team when he met Dion Phaneuf and James Reimer, Bernier really doesn’t know anybody on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That won’t stop him from trying to assert himself as the team’s No. 1 goalie — a position currently held by Reimer, but one that seems destined for Bernier.

“I’ve been waiting for that, to get my chance,” said Bernier, traded to the Leafs in June for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a conditional draft pick.

The scouts have long salivated at Bernier’s abilities. He showed what he could do in his limited appearances with the Los Angeles Kings, but admits to being frustrated at getting stuck behind Jonathan Quick.

“It was very frustrating. That’s hockey,” said Bernier. “When you get your chance, you’ve got to take it. That’s what happened with Jonathan Quick.

“He was there before me. Never really gave me a chance to prove what I could do. But he’s one of the best goalies in the NHL. It was hard for me after that to try to steal the job.”

In Toronto, the battle will be open. Reimer performed admirably in the role in 2013, bouncing back from an injury-filled 2011-12 campaign that brought a legion of doubters.

Reimer has one year left on a deal at $1.8 million, after which he will become a restricted free agent. Bernier just signed a two-year deal at $2.9 million per season, so it’s easy to see who Leafs GM Dave Nonis is putting his money on.

The Leafs, however, have not made Bernier any promises.

“They haven’t really told me anything. I’m very excited to have a fresh start,” he said.

As for his style of goaltending, he is from the Allaire school. Not Francois Allaire, mind you. But his brother, Benoit Allaire.

The two preach distinct styles and it is Benoit’s — who’s biggest protégé these days is the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist — who is more in vogue than the rigid butterfly style of Francois.

“I call myself a hybrid,” said Bernier in a phone interview from his home in Montreal. “I try to stay on my feet as long as possible, try to read the shot.

“If it’s high, I’ll stay on my feet. If it’s on the ice, I’ll go in the butterfly.”

Francois Allaire had little success in his time as Leafs goalie coach, preaching the butterfly to Jonas Gustavsson and Reimer, two goalies who had a more athletic approach to their game.

Bernier won’t have any trouble working with current goalie coach Rick St. Croix, who is more about fixing problems and staying positive while working within a netminder’s comfort zone.

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As for a kid from Quebec coming to the Maple Leafs, he doesn’t think in terms of rivalries, but only of winning. And he sees in the Leafs some of the same qualities he saw in the Kings in the years before their Cup win in 2012.

“It’s a great up-and-coming team,” said Bernier. “The Leafs feel the same way as when I started in L.A. We didn’t have much for a few years, then we got some really good draft picks and after that, free agents wanted to come.

“That’s what happening here. I can see they’re building a really good team.”

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