Steve Regier

2006-07 Update: May 1, 2007: Steve Regier went 3-2-5 in 8 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of April. He scored a game winning shorthanded goal in a win vs. Albany on Apr. 1st. Regier recorded a goal and 3 points in the Sound Tigers final regular season game on Apr. 15th, a win vs. Norfolk. He also scored the Sound Tigers lone goal in a 3-1 loss at the Philadelphia Phantoms on Apr. 14th. Regier went 0/2 in shootouts on the month missing vs. Providence on Apr. 6th and at Albany on Apr. 7th. He received a misconduct and a game misconduct, for 20 PIM's, at the tail end of the Sound Tigers loss at Hartford on Apr. 13th. The Sound Tigers posted a record of 3-4-1 in April, and were 2-1-0 in games in which Regier recorded a point. His goal on Apr. 1st was his 17th, setting a new career high. Regier is an unrestricted free agent for 2007-08.

April 1, 2007: Steve Regier went 2-7-9 in 12 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of March. He was a -4. Three of his assists came on the power play and one came while shorthanded. On Mar. 9th he was unsuccessful in a shootout attempt against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Regier had two game winning assists in a win vs. Philadelphia on Mar. 10th and in a 6-2 win at the Binghamton Senators on Mar. 23rd. He had a 3 game point scoring streak in which he went 1-5-6 from Mar. 17th to 23rd. Regier's goal on Mar. 23rd was his 16th of the season, which tied his career high set in 2005-06. He also set a new high for assists in a season with his 23rd on Mar. 17th and points with his 39th on Mar. 18th. On Mar. 10th Regier recorded his 95th career point as a Sound Tiger which moved him into 5th on Bridgeport's all time scoring list. On Mar. 23rd he recorded his 100th career AHL point. Regier was called up to the Islanders on Mar. 29th. He played in the Islanders 6-4 loss at the Buffalo Sabres on Mar. 30th, receiving 4:41 of ice time and recording 1 hit. It was his 10th career game as an Islanders. He played in 9 games during the 2005-06 season. Regier was re-assigned to the Sound Tigers on Mar. 31st. While with the Islanders, he missed two games with the Sound Tigers: 3/30 vs. Hartford and 3/31 at Hershey. 

March 1, 2007: Steve Regier went 3-5-8 in 15 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of February. On the power play he went 2-2-4. Two of Regier's goals were game winner's: Feb. 4th at Providence and Feb. 16th in a 4-1 win vs. the Lowell Devils. He was successful in a shootout attempt on Feb. 10th in a 4-3 win vs. Lowell. Regier had a 3 game point scoring streak in which he went 1-3-4 from Feb. 11th to 17th. He received a game misconduct for cross checking in Bridgeport's 1-0 win vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Feb. 18th. Bridgeport posted a record of 8-7-0 in February.

February 1, 2007: Steve Regier went 2-2-4 in 9 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of January. He had two points on the power play (1g, 1a). Regier scored a shorthanded goal Jan. 24th in a 4-1 win vs. Binghamton. He also scored in Bridgeport's 4-1 win vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Jan. 27th. Regier scored a goal in a shootout win vs. Hershey on Jan. 20th. Bridgeport won the game 4-3. Regier missed one game in January: 1/10 vs. Philadelphia. Bridgeport posted a record of 7-2-1 in January.

January 1, 2007: Steve Regier went 3-5-8 in 13 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the month of December. He was a -5 as the Sound Tigers struggled in December going 1-7-0 in their last 8 games. Overall on the power play he recorded 4 points, including 3 goals. He scored the game-winner in a 6-4 win vs. the Lowell Devils on Dec. 16th. He assisted on Frans Nielsen's overtime game-winning goal in Bridgeport's 2-1 win vs. Manchester Dec. 23rd.

December 1, 2006: Steve Regier went 4-5-9 in 13 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of November. He was a +4. Regier scored the game winning goal in a 5-2 win at the Binghamton Senators on November 3rd. He was 0/1 on the shootout. Regier recorded three multiple point games in November in which he scored a goal and an assist.

November 1, 2006: Steve Regier re-signed with the Islanders over the summer. He was sent down to Bridgeport on September 26th from the Islanders training camp. This is his third season with the Sound Tigers. Regier recorded 4 points in 7 games played with Bridgeport during the month of October. He had a goal and an assist in the Sound Tigers 6-3 win at Hartford on October 13th. The Sound Tigers trailed 3-1 entering the third period against the Wolf Pack before storming back with five straight goals to win. Regier tallied the goal that tied the game up 3-3.

mp3 of Steve Regier's goal - October 8, 2006

2006-07 Highlights:

* Named first star with a goal (GW) in 5-3 win at Providence Bruins February 4, 2007.
* Named third star with 2 assists in 4-3 loss at Albany River Rats February 23, 2007.
* Named second star with a goal & 2 assists in 5-4 win vs. Philadelphia Phantoms March 10, 2007.
* Named third star with a goal (GW,SH) in 4-2 win vs. Albany River Rats April 1, 2007.
* Named third star with a goal & 2 assists in 5-3 win vs. Norfolk Admirals April 15, 2007.

Steve Regier Interview
Sound Tigers Multimedia, Apr. 7, 2007

Click here for an interview with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers forward Steve Regier.

Steve Regier Visits Unquowa School
Sound Tigers Multimedia, Mar. 6, 2007

Click here to see Bridgeport Sound Tigers forward Steve Regier read to Unquowa School students.

Connpost.com 2006-07 Player Capsule

NAME — Steve Regier
NUMBER — 39
POSITION — Left wing
SHOOTS — Left
VITALS — 6-5, 200
BORN — Aug. 31, 1984, Edmonton, Alberta
LAST SEASON — Bridgeport (73: 16-22-38); N.Y. Islanders (9: 0-0-0)
RESUME — Continued to improve in his second pro season, developing into a power-play key and a top penalty killer. ... Had three three-point games for the Sound Tigers. ... Called up to finish the year in the NHL, making his Islanders debut April 2. ... Played center on occasion toward the end of the season.

2005-06 Update: May 1, 2006 Update: Steve Regier made his NHL debut with the Islanders wearing #48 on April 2, 2006 vs. the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers won the game 4-1. Regier played in the final 9 regular season games for the Islanders. He was held scoreless and was a -1. Really not sure what kind of future Regier has with the Islanders. Yes, he is young. But for a big guy he played very soft in his short stint with the Islanders and often looked intimidated. With the Sound Tigers though, he improved on his rookie season recording career highs in goals, assists and points.

Playoffs: Regier was returned to Bridgeport on April 19th to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first round of the AHL playoffs. In the series, Regier recorded 2 assists, was a -1 and had 6 PIM's. He assisted on Masi Marjamaki's game winning overtime goal in Game 5, a 3-2 Bridgeport win that saw them go up 3 games to 2. His other assist came in a Game 6 overtime loss, 3-2. Towards the end of the series Regier was inserted on a line with Marjamaki and David Masse. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went on to win the series 4 games to 3.

Quote following Game 5: "We've just got to play the way we played the third and overtime," said Steve Regier, instrumental in two goals. "We've got to play desperate. That's our big thing."

April 1, 2006 Update: Steve Regier had another solid month going 4-4-8 in 11 games played during the month of March. He was a +4 on the month. Spent some games in late March playing center.

March 1, 2006 Update: Steve Regier had a solid month going 5-4-9 in 12 games played during the month of February. Scored his career high 8th goal of the season February 10th in a 7-4 win vs. Lowell, surpassing his rookie season of 7 goals in 2004-05. In the same game he recorded his career high 23rd point. Has 8 more points this season than 2004-05 in 13 less games played. Scored the game winning goal in a 5-2 win at the Hershey Bears on February 11th. Had a 5 game point scoring streak going 3-4-7 from February 4th to 15th. 

February 1, 2006 Update: Steve Regier recorded 4 assists in 14 games played during the month of January. He's only one point away from tying his rookie output of 22 points in 2004-05.  

January 1, 2006 Update: Regier is close to equaling his point production from 2004-05 and it is only the midway point of the 2005-06 season. He is receiving more ice time than he did his rookie year and has become more of a regular in the lineup. 

Steve Regier got off to a bit of a slow start in his sophomore season going scoreless in his first 8 games. He made up for it with a strong November recording 11 points in 14 games played.

Highlights: * Named first star with 2 goals and an assist in 7-5 loss vs. Manchester Monarchs on November 4, 2005.

* Named second star with 3 assists in 5-1 win vs. Lowell Lock Monsters on November 13, 2005.

* Named first star with 2 assists in 4-0 win at Lowell Lock Monsters on December 2, 2005.

* Scored the game winning goal in 2-1 win vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins December 21, 2005. It was Regier's 7th goal of the season which tied his output for 2004-05. The goal was a wrist shot through Sebastian Caron's legs with under 5 minutes remaining in the game.

* Named third star with a goal and 2 assists in a 7-4 win vs. Lowell Lock Monsters February 10, 2006.

* Named second star with 2 goals(one PP) in a 6-3 win vs. Norfolk Admirals February 19, 2006.

For most of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' season, it seemed like a given: On a power play, for at least one shift, Steve Regier was going to be planted in front of the opposition's net. It probably will be a given again tonight, when the Sound Tigers try to finish off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 6 of the East Division semifinals at the Arena at Harbor Yard at 7:35.

With the influx of talent back from the NHL at the beginning of the playoffs, though, Regier had found himself limited to even-strength and penalty-kill time through the first four games.

Meanwhile, his teammates weren't generating any traffic in front of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltenders in the first few games of the East Division semifinals. That helped Penguins goalie Dany Sabourin win Games 3 and 4, including a 33-save shutout in the fourth game.

"Sabourin's a heck of a goalie," Bridgeport coach Dave Baseggio said after Wednesday's Game 5, a Sound Tigers overtime victory. "He's even better when he sees everything. We wanted to take away his vision."

Enter Regier, 6-foot-5, heading back to a role he embraced, on a power-play unit with Matt Koalska and either Jeff Tambellini or Blake Comeau.

"It's something I've done during the season. I think we were lacking that in the first couple of games," Regier said. "Bags just said go to the front of the net. & That's my job on the power play."

Bridgeport went 1-for-5 on the power play Wednesday, and that one was a big one. Trailing 2-0 in the game and staring at a series deficit, Ryan Caldwell slapped a shot from the center point through Regier's camped-out screen in front of Sabourin.

The comeback was on. "We seemed to feed off that," Baseggio said. "We got better."

Regier also helped set up Masi Marjamaki's goal 2:11 into overtime. While Sound Tigers goalie Wade Dubielewicz has just about dominated the series — he's allowed nine goals, two of which bounced off teammates, in five games — each game has been decided by one goal. Each team has an overtime win.

BRIDGEPORT — Ten minutes after the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Springfield Falcons, Steve Regier was the only one left in the Sound Tigers' main dressing room, seated at his stall, head hung in contrition.

Regier's second-period goal had earned Bridgeport one point in the standings Saturday night. His giveaway cost his team a chance at a second. Old friend Nick Tarnasky took the puck away from Regier in the Bridgeport zone, and Tarnasky cut in on goalie Frederic Cloutier and completed his first pro hat trick 3:08 into overtime. Regier said he heard Allan Rourke calling from the puck, then lost the handle.

"I don't know what happened," said Regier, who played a year of youth hockey with Tarnasky and played against him in junior. "I mishandled it and put it right on his tape. I might as well have shot it in my own net. I take full responsibility for the loss."

Scout-night attendance was 5,381, five tickets short of the Jan. 29 season high. Tarnasky, whose Rocky Mountain House hometown is right near Regier's Spruce Grove in western Alberta, had never had a multi-goal game as a pro until scoring twice off rebounds in the first period Saturday. Rob Collins and Regier scored for the Sound Tigers, who have lost three consecutive games, all at home, all to teams at the time in last place in their division. "We played hard. We played a pretty good game," coach Dave Baseggio said. "You can't make a mistake like that. And they got two goals off faceoffs."

Regier scored on a power-play rebound 3:29 into the second. Collins had a short-handed breakaway midway through the second but missed the net. Bridgeport had other chances but couldn't capitalize. "We probably will see we had the majority of chances," Baseggio said. "We don't shoot the puck for some reason. We try to make one extra pass."

A more mature Regier hasn't lost his sense of joy for the game
by Michael Fornabaio - ctpost.com - December 27, 2005

BRIDGEPORT — A year older, a year wiser, Steve Regier still hasn't lost the joy. There was the day earlier this month when he got Robert Nilsson and Evgeny Tunik to join him in a new one of his post-practice games: Regier put a puck between his teeth, let it go and tried to one-time it. He'll still, every so often, go to the corner and try to slide the puck in along the goal line from the impossible angle. And when he does it, he still celebrates like a little kid. "The game's still fun. A lot of guys lose sight of that," Regier said. "It's not just playing around. It's working on skills, things maybe you're not as good at."

The Regier Olympics might be a little smaller affair this year than last year. His usual sparring partner, skating coach Bernie Cassell, hasn't been around this year.

But there's also a little more focus to his efforts in practice, a by-product of that year of experience, being a 21-year-old, second-year pro instead of a 20-year-old rookie. "You like to see that," said Bridgeport coach Dave Baseggio. "It is a game. The guys should have fun and enjoy what they're doing. There's a time you've got to bear down, work on your game, work on some things. He's learning when to do it, when not to."

The result, going into Wednesday's game against Springfield, has been a more confident, well-rounded player than last year's gawky kid trying to find his niche. Regier had already matched the seven goals he scored last year. He had 10 assists, five shy of last year's season total. All that, despite not scoring in his first eight games. At that time, he rated a minus-2. Over the next 14 games, he was plus-11; for the year now, he's plus-7 on a team that has still given up more goals than it has scored. . "I hate to get scored on," Regier said. Regier has also slowly added 15 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame since he was drafted in the fifth round in 2004, aiding his improvement after a slow start.

Last year's NHL lockout made the AHL much stronger, and Regier didn't have the benefit of an NHL training camp to show him how big a step he was trying to make, coming up from junior hockey. He didn't score a point in 2004-05 until Dec. 3. "Last year, those first 60 games, I didn't feel right. I didn't believe I belonged in the league," Regier said. "That last 15 games of the year, I started to get more comfortable."

The better he has been this season, the more playing time the coaching staff has given him, and he says that just increases his confidence.

He has become a power-play fixture, particularly on the five-on-three advantage, when Baseggio has told him to go to the front of the net and stay there to set a screen. In recent weeks, Regier has also become one of the Sound Tigers' top penalty killers, a job that requires constant skating, smart positioning and attention to detail. And he's done well, helping kill off two key two-man disadvantages last week. "Part of it is he's not afraid to block shots," Baseggio said, noting that Regier's long reach is also helpful. "It's presence," Baseggio added. "He's watched. He killed a bit last year. He's always watching, paying attention."

The special-teams time is in addition to his regular shift, on which he has scored 13 of his 17 points. He scored the game-winner in Wednesday's big win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton through a screen after a hard-working shift with linemates Chris Thompson and Travis Brigley. "I see him a lot more mature, a lot more poised and mature with the puck, too," Baseggio said. Know where that comes from? It might come from his time after morning skates.

"I love to play around with the puck, get a good handle on it," Regier said. "In the game that night, it feels like I've had the puck all day."

SHELTON — A few times last weekend, Steve Regier paused on the way to the penalty box. Picked up by referee Jeff Smith for a trip, a hook and a hold in two games at Norfolk, Va., Regier wanted to know what he'd done to violate the AHL's new standards on penalties, and how he could stay out of trouble. "Guys have to know what's a penalty and what's not. I felt we should open a line of communication," said Regier, who took only 14 minor penalties in 75 games last season.

"They're not only reffing the game. They're also going to help us learn."

Regier's penalties account for three of the Sound Tigers' 32 penalty kills over the season's first three games. And Bridgeport is far from alone. In the league's first 24 games, teams have combined for 438 power plays, or 18.25 per game. That's a 39 percent increase over the first 24 games last season. In those first 24 games of 2004-05, six teams reached double figures in power plays in a game. But so far this year, only eight games have not had at least one team earn 10 or more power plays.

Four times already, both teams have gone to the man advantage 10 times or more. Smith gave Norfolk 13 power plays in both Friday's and Saturday's games. Bridgeport received 12 Friday and nine Saturday.

"If that's the way they're going to call 'em, we have to adjust," Bridgeport coach Dave Baseggio said. "We can't be taking 13-15 penalties a night. We can't put a team on the power play that many times."

Baseggio, preferring to "deal in the present," said he hasn't compared this year's calls on videotape against last year's standards.

But Regier, who has to battle for pucks in the corners, is one player who can feel the shift already.

Friday, he was called for dumping Norfolk defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, then for reaching in with his stick and hooking Michal Barinka.

Saturday, he grabbed onto Milan Bartovic and got his third penalty.

"They're going to call all the pins down low," Regier said. "That's a big difference in my game."

2004-05 Update: Steve Regier led all Sound Tigers rookie forwards with 7 goals and 22 points. His +6 rating was second best among all Bridgeport forwards. His large frame helps to bring a physical presence to the Sound Tigers lineup, but Regier has learned to discipline himself and not take bad penalties. Look for his role to increase with the Sound Tigers in 2005-06 as well as his ice time. On December 22, 2005 Regier scored with one-tenth of a second left in regulation at the Arena at Harbor Yard to force a tie with the Philadelphia Phantoms and eventually a 3-2 Bridgeport shootout win, the first in the history of their franchise.

Sound Tigers Tie Game Late, Win 3-2 in Shootout

(BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Dec. 22, 2004) – Steve Regier scored the tying goal with one-tenth of a second left in regulation and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers won their first-ever franchise shootout over the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Arena at Harbor Yard, 3-2.

BRIDGEPORT — He's tall enough. He has skill, great hands for a big guy. For Steve Regier, this season has been all about getting stronger: with the puck, away from the puck, in the weight room, anywhere possible. As a 20-year-old rookie, he had scored only nine points in his first 56 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the rookie left winger wasn't always getting tapped for key situations on the ice. But in the last 2 weeks, everything has clicked.

Going into Wednesday's game in Virginia, Regier had scored a goal and eight assists in the previous eight games, doubling his point total, tripling his assist total and making a season of work pay dividends. He's finished checks and been hard to knock off the puck.

"I can handle myself now," Regier said Tuesday. "The last 50 games, I've gotten a feel for it. The first 15, I got jitters. I've got a hold of what I can do out there."

The New York Islanders' unfinished gem, which they plucked out of western Canada in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft last June and sent to Bridgeport for polishing, is starting to shine. It took a while to get this far. Regier was a healthy scratch in five of Bridgeport's first six games, though he has not come out of the lineup since, one of only two regular skaters not to miss a game to injury. He needed 15 games before he scored his first point. But he has consistently gotten stronger, adding 10 pounds since the draft to reach 200 on a 6-foot-5 frame. "He's a little more confident in his strength on his skates," Bridgeport coach Greg Cronin said. "Four months ago, he'd hit somebody and fall down. That's the reason he's so visible now: He'll hit a guy and get the puck back."

Regier's patience in playmaking has impressed Cronin the past few weeks. There's the overtime goal in Manchester on March 19, when he waited out two defenders just inside the blue line and made a perfect setup to Rob Collins.

Saturday, he made two good moves to get shots against Hartford; Stephen Valiquette stopped both shots, but Regier made him leave rebounds, and linemate Matt Koalska cleaned both up. Regier credits Koalska and Heisten with a lot of his recent success. The trio came together in mid-February, and Cronin likes how the feisty Heisten has lit a fire under the two rookies. Regier says Heisten, a four-year pro, has taught them a lot. Regier won't turn 21 until August, and there's some youthful exuberance in the way he goes about his business. He's invariably the last player off the ice after warmup, on till the last possible instant.

He and skating coach Bernie Cassell are often the last ones off the ice at the end of practice. They'll sometimes play games, flipping the last of the pucks into a bucket, or onto the top of the net from the slot, or into the net from improbable angles.

"He's a glutton for work," said Islanders coach Steve Stirling, who often works with Regier around the net after practices. "If you don't kick him off, he'll stay out there forever."

Cassell picked Regier out in training camp, seeing his straight-ahead skating but noticing he needed more efficiency in his turns. He's also worked with Regier on skating in the corners, behind the net, on the cycle. "Steve's done a good job protecting the puck down low and coming out ready to shoot or pass," Cassell said. The improvement has been obvious, but it's just a start, Cronin said. Regier needs to have another solid conditioning summer, and he needs to continue this good play in the last 10 games. "He's raised the bar," Cronin said. And he's drawn some attention. "Coaches on other teams are coming down and saying, That 39's a good player.' Who'd have thought that three months ago?"

The Regier file

NAME — Steve Regier

AGE — 20

VITALS — 6-foot-5, 200 pounds

POSITION — Left winger

SHOOTS — Left

RESUME — New York Islanders' fifth-round draft pick in last year's NHL Entry Draft. ... Had scored half of his 18 points in the eight games before Wednesday night's game at Norfolk. ... Scored 25 goals and 60 points last year for Medicine Hat (WHL) in his last year of junior; those were up from 11 goals and 21 points the year before. ... Put on 10 pounds over the summer. ... Edmonton, Alberta, native won't turn 21 until Aug. 31. ... Funniest thing he's seen in a game: Steve Regier — "I saw a steel garbage can hit a referee and knock him out in Bantam AAA."

- Last season, Regier recorded 25 goals and 35 assists for 70 points in 72 games. He will be in training camp in a couple weeks but most likely will spend the 2004-05 season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Isles Select LW Steve Regier 148th

The Islanders continue to select character type players in the draft by taking Medicine Hat Tiger's towering left wing Steve Regier. A 1984 birth date makes Regier two years older than most players drafted this year, which means he's two more years developed and closer to making the pros. He helped the Tigers make it to the Memorial Cup Tournament and the Isles project him possibly soon playing in Bridgeport.

Isles Scouts: "Like the way we've been going in this draft," said Western scout Harkie Singh, "this kid has plenty of character and has improved dramatically over this season."

"He's got a big body and is willing to battle," said Singh. "He's a lot like what [St. Louis'] Shjon Podein is -- a big guy who can check well and give you some offense. He's strong along the wall and will fight for loose pucks. He doesn't mind taking the puck into high traffic areas."

"We expect him to keep with his learning curve and be able to one day make the jump to pro hockey," said Singh.

BIOGRAPHY: from tigershockey.com

pre 2003-04: Steve hails from Spruce Grove, AB and is still excited about last season's playoffs. He recalls certain victories against Swift Current and Red Deer as highlights…His goal for the upcoming season is to put up one point per game…Regier says he plays like Brenden Shanahan…As far as a favorite hockey moment Steve will never forget his first WHL goal…Away from the rink Steve enjoys golf, tennis, badminton, squash and billiards.

2004 WHL Playoffs: April 26 - May 2, Steve Regier, Medicine Hat Tigers
Created: May 3, 2004

Calgary - The Greyhound WHL Player of the Week is Left Winger Steve Regier of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Regier earned player of the week honours by recording three points in two home victories over the Everett Silvertips to open the 2004 WHL Championship Series.

On Friday, April 30th, Regier scored twice, including the game winning goal and the insurance goal in the Tigers 4-1 victory and on Saturday, May 1st, added an assist in a 3-0 victory. The Tigers lead the best-of-seven series two games to none heading into Game 3 in Everett on Tuesday, May 4th.

Regier, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, has 14 points (5g, 9a) through 16 games in the 2004 WHL Playoffs.

GREYHOUND COURIER EXPRESS is the OFFICIAL COURIER of the WHL.

Special teams key in Memorial Cup semi
May 21, 2004

KELOWNA, B.C. (CP) -- Of the three teams remaining in the tournament, the Tigers are the ones without Memorial Cup experience coming in and have been feeling their way through the tournament.

"We're a first-timer in 16 years and none of the guys have experienced a Memorial Cup, so it is a bit of a learning curve for every guy on the team no matter if you're 16 or 20 years old," winger Steve Regier said. "The longer the tournament goes on, the better the feel for the kind of play and the fast-pacedness.

"I think the guys are getting a feel for that."

Regier admitted the Olympiques are a more physical team than he'd anticipated.

"To tell you the truth, they hit a lot more than I expected," he said. "The tendency with a French team is that they are a little softer. They don't like to play a physical game. That's not like Gatineau."

islesinfo.com: Regier went 5-11-16 in 18 playoff games for the Tigers in 2004 to help lead them to a WHL Championship and to the Championship game in the Memorial Cup where they lost to Blake Comeau and the Kelowna Rockets.

- Regier was a teammate of Isles 2003 8th round pick D Cody Blanshan with the Tigers last season.

- Regier went undrafted in the last two drafts and was considered a free agent.