Steve Bernier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Bernier |
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Bernier with the New Jersey Devils in 2014
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| Born | March 31, 1985 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | San Jose Sharks Buffalo Sabres Vancouver Canucks Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils New York Islanders |
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| NHL Draft | 16th overall, 2003 San Jose Sharks |
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| Playing career | 2005–2020 | ||
Steve Bernier (born March 31, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right winger. Steve was chosen early in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 16th overall, by the San Jose Sharks. During his career in the NHL, Bernier played for several teams. These included the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and the New York Islanders.
Playing Career
Junior Hockey Days
When Steve was young, he played in the 1998 and 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments. He played with a youth hockey team from Quebec City.
In 2001, Steve helped his team, the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy, win the 2001 Air Canada Cup. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that tournament. After this success, he was the very first player picked in the 2001 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Midget Draft.
Steve played his entire four-season junior career with the Moncton Wildcats. In his first year, he scored the most goals for Moncton. He also ranked fourth in scoring among all QMJHL rookies. Because of his great start, he was named to the 2001–02 QMJHL All-Rookie Team.
His best junior season was in 2002–03, the year he was drafted. He scored 49 goals and 101 points, placing him ninth in the league for scoring. He was also named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team.
The San Jose Sharks were very interested in Steve. They traded several draft picks to move up and select him 16th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted, Steve played two more seasons with Moncton. He was again named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team in 2003–04.
He helped Moncton reach the 2004 QMJHL Finals, scoring seven goals and ten assists in 20 playoff games. However, his team lost to the Gatineau Olympiques. In his final junior season, 2004–05, Bernier led his team in scoring with 71 points. Soon after his junior career ended, the Sharks signed him to his first professional contract.
Professional Hockey Journey
Starting with the Sharks and Sabres
Steve began his professional career in the 2005–06 season. He split his time between the Sharks and their minor league team, the Cleveland Barons. He had a good rookie season with the Sharks, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists in 39 games. His first NHL goal was scored on November 12, 2005, against Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars. In the 2006 playoffs, he added one goal and five assists.
During his second season, Steve was sent back to the minor league after a tough loss for the Sharks. He then broke his toe and missed a month of games. After recovering, he played ten games with the Worcester Sharks (San Jose's new minor league team). He rejoined the Sharks in late February.
On February 26, 2008, Steve was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. This happened on the NHL trade deadline. The Sabres also received a first-round draft pick. In return, the Sharks got defenceman Brian Campbell and a seventh-round pick. The very next day, in his first game with the Sabres, Steve scored two goals and added an assist. This helped Buffalo win 8–4 against the Nashville Predators.
Time with the Vancouver Canucks
After the season, Steve became a restricted free agent. He was then traded to the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks sent a second-round pick in 2010 and a third-round pick in 2009 to the Sabres. Steve was surprised by the trade but happy to move to Vancouver.
A few days later, the St. Louis Blues offered him a one-year, $2.5 million contract. The Canucks quickly matched this offer, keeping him in Vancouver. In his first season with the Canucks, he hurt his left shoulder and toe in November 2008. However, he was only out for a short time. He set new personal bests for assists and points that season. He also won the Fred J. Hume Award as the team's unsung hero.
Steve was expected to play on the Canucks' top line with the famous Sedin brothers. But he ended up playing a strong checking role on the third line with Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond. After the Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs, Steve signed a new two-year, $4 million contract on May 14, 2009. For the 2009–10 season, Steve worked hard and reported to training camp 15 pounds lighter.
Playing for the Florida Panthers
On June 25, 2010, during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Steve was traded again. He went to the Florida Panthers along with Michael Grabner and a first-round draft pick. In return, the Canucks received Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. In November 2010, Steve missed eight games due to a right eye injury. Later that season, he was placed on waivers, meaning other teams could claim him, but none did. He stayed with Florida and finished the 2010–11 season with 15 points. Florida chose not to offer him a new contract, making him a free agent.
Time with the New Jersey Devils
Without a contract, Steve was invited to the New Jersey Devils' training camp in September 2011. Within a month, he signed a contract with their minor league team, the Albany Devils. He later signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on January 30, 2012.
In Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, Steve was given a major penalty for hitting a player from behind. This penalty led to the Los Angeles Kings scoring three goals, including the goal that won them the Stanley Cup. The Kings won the game 6–1 and clinched the series.
Joining the New York Islanders
After four seasons with the Devils, Steve became a free agent. Before the 2015-16 season, he signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders on September 17, 2015. He played in 24 games for the Islanders, scoring 6 points. The next season, he played for their minor league team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
On June 9, 2017, the Islanders re-signed Steve to a two-year contract. After his contract with the Islanders ended in 2018–19, Steve decided to stay with the organization. He signed another one-year contract to play for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on July 11, 2019.
Retirement from Playing
In August 2021, Steve Bernier took on a new role in player development for the Moncton Wildcats. This marked the end of his playing career.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| IIHF World U18 Championships | ||
| Gold | 2003 Russia | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| Gold | 2002 Slovakia | |
Steve first played for his country at the 2001 World U-17 Challenge with Team Quebec. He scored six points in six games, but Quebec did not win a medal.
At the under-18 level, he played in the 2002 Eight Nations Tournament in Slovakia with Team Canada. They won the gold medal. During his second year of major junior hockey, Steve played in the 2003 World U18 Championships in Russia. He won his second gold medal in a row with Team Canada, beating Slovakia 3–0. He recorded eight points in seven games, ranking second in team scoring.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | Quebec AA Aces | QAHA | 28 | 33 | 23 | 56 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Quebec AA Aces | QAHA | 26 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Ste-Foy Gouverneurs | QMAAA | 39 | 17 | 35 | 52 | 48 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 8 | ||
| 2001–02 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 66 | 31 | 28 | 59 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 71 | 49 | 52 | 101 | 90 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 66 | 36 | 46 | 82 | 80 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 17 | ||
| 2004–05 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 68 | 35 | 36 | 71 | 114 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 22 | ||
| 2005–06 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 49 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 39 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 2006–07 | Worcester Sharks | AHL | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 62 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 29 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 59 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 17 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 81 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 2009–10 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 59 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 68 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Albany Devils | AHL | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 32 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 27 | ||
| 2012–13 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 47 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 78 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Albany Devils | AHL | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 67 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | New York Islanders | NHL | 24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 33 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 63 | 21 | 14 | 35 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | New York Islanders | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 62 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 87 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 20 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 637 | 105 | 125 | 230 | 300 | 74 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 44 | ||||
International Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Canada Quebec | U17 | 5th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2002 | Canada Quebec | U17 | 4th | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2002 | Canada | IH18 |  |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2003 | Canada | WJC18 | |
7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | |
| Junior totals | 22 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 20 | ||||
Awards and Achievements
- Won the Air Canada Cup with the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy in 2001.
- Named Air Canada Cup MVP in 2001.
- Named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team in 2002.
- Named to the CHL Second All-Star Team in 2003.
- Named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team in 2003 and 2004.
- Won the Fred J. Hume Award (Vancouver Canucks' unsung hero) in 2009.
