Steve Bernier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Bernier |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Bernier with the New Jersey Devils in 2014
|
|||
| Born | March 31, 1985 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
||
| 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 |
||
| NHL Draft | 16th overall, 2003 San Jose Sharks |
||
| 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 by the San Jose Sharks. He played for several teams in the NHL, including the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders.
Playing Career
Junior Hockey Days
When Steve was young, he played in big hockey tournaments like the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He was a star player for the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy team, helping them win the 2001 Air Canada Cup. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that tournament!
After his success, Steve was the very first player picked in the 2001 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft. He spent his entire junior career playing for the Moncton Wildcats. In his first year, he scored the most goals for his team. His best junior season was in 2002–03, when he scored 49 goals and 101 points. This made him one of the top scorers in the QMJHL.
In 2003, the San Jose Sharks traded up to pick Steve Bernier 16th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He continued to play for Moncton for two more seasons. He helped his team reach the QMJHL Finals in 2004. After his final junior season in 2004–05, the Sharks signed him to his first professional contract.
Professional Hockey
Starting with the Sharks and Sabres
Steve started his professional career in the 2005–06 season. He split his time between the San Jose Sharks in the NHL and their minor league team, the Cleveland Barons. He had a great first year in the NHL, scoring 14 goals. His very first NHL goal was on November 12, 2005.
During his second season, Steve spent some time back in the minor leagues with the Worcester Sharks. Later, in 2008, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. In his first game with the Sabres, he scored two goals right away, helping his new team win!
Time with the Vancouver Canucks
After playing for the Sabres, Steve was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. He was surprised by the trade but happy to join the team. He signed a one-year contract with the Canucks. During his first season in Vancouver, he had a minor injury but quickly returned to play. He set new personal bests for assists and points that year. He was even given an award called the Fred J. Hume Award for being the team's unsung hero. In 2009, he signed a new two-year contract with the Canucks.
Moving to the Florida Panthers
In 2010, Steve was traded again, this time to the Florida Panthers. He played for the Panthers during the 2010–11 season. He had a few injuries that season, including an eye injury and a shoulder injury. After the season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Playing for the New Jersey Devils
In 2011, Steve was invited to the training camp for the New Jersey Devils. He later signed a contract with their minor league team, the Albany Devils, and then with the New Jersey Devils themselves in 2012.
Steve became part of a very successful line of players for the Devils, known as the "CBGB line," along with Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta. They played a big role in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, Steve received a penalty for hitting a player from behind. This penalty gave the opposing team, the Los Angeles Kings, a long power play. The Kings scored three goals during this time, which helped them win the game and the Stanley Cup.
Last NHL Stop: New York Islanders
After four seasons with the Devils, Steve became a free agent. In 2015, he signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders. He played 24 games for them. The next season, he played for the Islanders' minor league team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He signed another two-year contract with the Islanders organization in 2017. He continued to play for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 2019, he signed another one-year contract to stay with the Sound Tigers.
Retirement from Playing
In August 2021, Steve Bernier took on a new role. He became involved in player development for the Moncton Wildcats, his old junior team. This marked the end of his playing career.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing .svg){kind=small} Canada |
||
| Ice hockey | ||
| IIHF World U18 Championships | ||
| Gold | 2003 Russia | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| Gold | 2002 Slovakia | |
Steve Bernier also played for Team Canada in international hockey tournaments. His first time playing for his country was at the 2001 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
At the under-18 level, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia. He won another gold medal with Team Canada at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. Canada won 3–0 against Slovakia in the final game. Steve scored eight points in seven games during that tournament.
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 Play 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.
