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Steve Bernier

From Alfawiki
Steve Bernier
Born (1985-03-31) March 31, 1985 (age 41)
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
OccupationProfessional ice hockey right winger (retired)
Years active2005–2021
Known forPlaying for San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders in the NHL

Steve Bernier (born March 31, 1985) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. Selected 16th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Bernier's NHL tenure included playing for the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders.

Junior

Bernier took part in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in both 1998 and 1999, representing a minor team from Quebec City.

After earning Tournament MVP honors at the 2001 Air Canada Cup with the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy, he was chosen first overall in the 2001 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Midget Draft. Bernier devoted his entire four-year major junior career to the Moncton Wildcats. During his rookie campaign, he led Moncton in goal scoring and ranked fourth among all QMJHL rookies in points, securing a place on the 2001–02 QMJHL All-Rookie Team. His most productive junior season was in 2002–03 when he tallied 49 goals and 101 points, placing ninth in league scoring and earning a spot on the QMJHL Second All-Star Team.

Prior to the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the San Jose Sharks made a move to acquire the 16th overall selection to pick Bernier. He remained with Moncton for two additional seasons, again receiving QMJHL Second All-Star Team honors in 2003–04. Leading his team to the 2004 QMJHL Finals, Bernier amassed seven goals and ten assists across 20 playoff games before falling to the Gatineau Olympiques. In his final junior year (2004–05), he registered 71 points and accumulated 114 penalty minutes over 68 games despite a slight dip in offensive production. After Moncton's second-round playoff elimination, Bernier signed a three-year professional contract with San Jose.

San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres

In his rookie professional season (2005–06), Bernier divided his time between the San Jose Sharks and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Barons, recording 14 goals and 13 assists over 39 NHL appearances. He scored his inaugural NHL goal on November 12, 2005, against Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars. During the 2006 playoffs, Bernier contributed one goal and five assists across 11 games as San Jose advanced to the second round.

In his sophomore season, following an 8–0 defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes, Bernier was briefly sent down to the AHL but then suffered a broken toe that kept him out for approximately one month. After completing rehabilitation and appearing in ten games with the Worcester Sharks (San Jose's new AHL affiliate), he rejoined San Jose's roster near the end of February.

On February 26, 2008, Bernier was traded to the Buffalo Sabres alongside a first-round draft pick in exchange for defenseman Brian Campbell and a seventh-round selection. In his debut game for Buffalo, he scored two goals on his initial two shots and added an assist during an 8–4 victory over the Nashville Predators. Since Thomas Vanek already wore jersey number 26, Bernier opted for number 56.

Vancouver Canucks

Following that season, as a restricted free agent, Bernier was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in return for second- and third-round draft picks in the 2010 and 2009 NHL Entry Drafts respectively. Though caught off guard by the trade, he embraced his new opportunity in Vancouver. Shortly thereafter, he received a one-year contract offer worth $2.5 million from the St. Louis Blues, which Vancouver matched promptly.

During his initial season with Vancouver, Bernier sustained injuries to his left shoulder and toe in November 2008 but made a rapid recovery. He achieved personal bests in assists and total points while being honored with the Fred J. Hume Award as the team's unsung hero. Although initially considered for a top-line position alongside Henrik and Daniel Sedin, he ultimately settled into a third-line checking role paired with Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond. After Vancouver was eliminated in the second round of playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks, Bernier secured a two-year contract extension worth $4 million on May 14, 2009.

Entering training camp before the 2009–10 season, Bernier arrived lighter than before with intentions of enhancing his performance.

Florida Panthers

On June 25, 2010, during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Bernier was sent to the Florida Panthers along with Michael Grabner and Vancouver's first-round selection (25th overall, which became Quinton Howden) in return for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. In November of that year, Bernier was sidelined for eight games due to an injury to his right eye. Subsequently, on February 24, 2011, he was placed on waivers but remained unclaimed. He concluded the 2010–11 NHL season with a total of 15 points (five goals and ten assists) across 68 contests. Florida opted not to extend a qualifying offer to him, rendering Bernier an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, 2011.

New Jersey Devils

Entering training camp in September 2011 without a contract, Bernier received an invitation to the New Jersey Devils' camp. Within a month, he agreed to an AHL deal with their affiliate team, the Albany Devils. On January 30, 2012, he earned a one-year, two-way NHL contract with New Jersey.

Bernier formed part of the CBGB line alongside Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta, one of the NHL's most effective fourth lines, collectively amassing 21 points in 24 games during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, in Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, Bernier was assessed a five-minute major penalty plus a game misconduct for boarding on Los Angeles Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi. This infraction resulted in three goals for the Kings—including the Stanley Cup-winning tally—giving them a commanding advantage. The Kings triumphed in the game 6–1, securing their inaugural Stanley Cup championship.

New York Islanders

After spending four seasons with the Devils, Bernier inked a one-year deal with the New York Islanders on September 17, 2015. He took part in 24 games that season, contributing 6 points, and spent the subsequent year playing for their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

On June 9, 2017, Bernier renewed his contract with the Islanders on a two-year, two-way agreement. Upon completing this contract following the 2018-19 AHL season, he returned to Bridgeport for a fourth campaign under a one-year contract announced on July 11, 2019.

Retirement

In August 2021, Bernier shifted into a player development position with the Moncton Wildcats organization, marking the conclusion of his professional playing career.

International play

Bernier made his international debut at the 2001 World U-17 Hockey Challenge representing Team Quebec, where he recorded six points over six contests. At the under-18 level, he secured gold medals with Team Canada at both the 2002 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament held in Slovakia and again at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. During that tournament, he amassed eight points in seven games and ranked second in team scoring behind Marc-Antoine Pouliot.

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 NHL season Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 15 17 32 27 10 2 2 4 7
2009–10 NHL season Vancouver Canucks NHL 59 11 11 22 21 12 4 1 5 0
2010–11 NHL season Florida Panthers NHL 68 5 10 15 21
2011–12 AHL season Albany Devils AHL 17 3 3 6 8
2011–12 NHL season New Jersey Devils NHL 32 1 5 6 16 24 2 5 7 27
2012–13 NHL season New Jersey Devils NHL 47 8 7 15 17
2013–14 NHL season New Jersey Devils NHL 78 3 9 12 33
2014–15 AHL season Albany Devils AHL 9 1 4 5 17
2014–15 NHL season New Jersey Devils NHL 67 16 16 32 28
2015–16 NHL season New York Islanders NHL 24 1 5 6 9 6 0 0 0 0
2016–17 AHL season Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 33 16 10 26 26
2017–18 AHL season Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 63 21 14 35 36
2017–18 NHL season New York Islanders NHL 4 0 0 0 0
2018–19 AHL season Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 62 24 18 42 87 5 1 1 2 2
2019–20 AHL season Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 20 2 2 4 0

! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | NHL totals !637!!105!!125!!230!!300!!74!!9!!14!!23!!44

International

Year Team Tournament Outcome GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Canada Quebec U17 5th place 4 1 3 4 4
2002 Canada Quebec U17 4th place 6 3 3 6 0
2002 Canada IH18 Template:Gold1 5 0 0 0 4
2003 Canada WJC18 Template:Gold1 7 4 4 8 12
Junior totals 22 8 10 18 20

Awards

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