When the 2017-18 Swift Current Broncos brought the Ed Chynoweth Cup back to the city of Swift Current for the first time in 25 years, the big names from the team talked about how much it meant to bring the title to the smallest market in the WHL.
There was one member of the team who did not play that much but still had played in the city of Swift Current for over three years at that point.
2000-born forward Ethan Regnier had eight points in the regular season and played in three playoff games, getting limited minutes. But the native of Prince Albert played for the Legionnaires in Swift Current during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. So, he was very connected to the city as he watched it go nuts during Game 6 of the WHL Final, where his team hoisted the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
“The city when you are winning (is) absolutely nuts. I think it’s the best place to play in the league when you are doing good. Even when we weren’t going well last year, the fans still came out to support us. The community stuff we do with the kids around town and the fans are really awesome,” Regnier stated.
Surprisingly, Regnier was passed over when he tried to make his local Prince Albert Mintos team.
“I tried out for the Mintos and went to their spring camp and they didn’t offer me a contract. Then I came here and they offered me a contract. They showed me around the town and stuff, and I thought it was nice. I have been in Swift for quite a while,” he said.
He ended up with the Broncos after being taken in the 11th round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. While his minutes were limited on the championship team, he and fellow WHL champion Connor Horning picked up some things from the many now-professional hockey players in the locker room.
“That was awesome. Horns and I weren’t playing too much, but to be around those guys a bunch and watch how they do things and how professional they are on and off the ice and their habits, it was great to take in,” Regnier stated.
With so many departures, there was an opportunity for Regnier in the top-six. He seized the chance at more ice time and put up 31 points. He and Horning tied for the team lead.
“It was really different coming in, and I knew I would have a different role than I played the year before. It was definitely a learning experience. I didn’t play very much through all my rookie year behind all those good guys, so I just tried to take it all in and learn as much as I could. I think overall the season was pretty good for me. I think I developed quite a bit, and I’m excited to keep it going this season,” Regnier said.
Improving on those 31 points was on Regnier’s mind all offseason.
“Last year was my first year of really playing in the league. I thought I needed to get stronger, so I worked at gaining some weight while maintaining my strength and speed. I think I ended up doing that and that was my main goal.”
His head coach and director of player personnel with the Broncos — Dean Brockman — noticed.
“Ethan had a great offseason — just mentally getting through the league and being a guy who can play a lot of situations. He just blossomed for us. He maybe got a little tired at the end of the year. He’s a character guy, in the gym and on the ice doing extra things,” Brockman said.
Another area Ethan knows he will be counted on is leading the way for the young guys who are just now getting their feet wet in the WHL.
“Now that I have been around and played, going into my third year — I’m not that old — me and Horns need to show these guys what this league is about. Seeing how hard it was for our group to win that year, we know it’s a lot of time, effort, and pain you go through. We need to just lead the way for the younger kids,” he said.
Brockman knows that the 5-foot-10, 184-pound winger will be key in helping the Broncos improve upon the 11 wins they put up in 2018-19. Should they make a run at the playoffs, it will be Regnier’s performance on the ice and his leadership off it that will be key.
“He’s become a real strong leader for us. He wants to be successful and wants to be part of phase two or phase three or whatever phase we are at. He’s a great young, character kid who has had to earn his way through. He will continue to do that,” Brockman said.
Helping out what will be another young team as they get acclimated is something Regnier looks forward to. During training camp, he liked what he saw in the young players just now breaking their way into the league.
“We had had a pretty good draft this year. Seeing the kids we drafted this year, they are some special players. It’s nice for the organization. The guys that come back — I think they put in the work in the offseason so I think we will be better.”
It’s up to Regnier and the older guys to lead the way for that younger group and help the Broncos get back to their winning ways.
