Darcy Regier Presented with PHPA Distinguished Member Award

By Darryl Dionne  Published on: Thursday February 09, 2012

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier was officially presented with the PHPA Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award prior to Wednesday’s game against Boston.

The award, named in honor of former PHPA Executive Director, Curt Leichner, is presented annually to a member of the hockey community who has made significant contributions towards the advancement of professional minor league hockey, and has continued to diligently serve the sport.  Regier was unanimously selected as the 2011 recipient by the PHPA Executive Committee last spring.

Regier played parts of eight seasons of professional hockey from 1976-’84 in the former Central Hockey League (CHL) for Indianapolis and Salt Lake, and was a member of three championship teams.  In his rookie season, he volunteered to become his team’s PHPA Player Representative, despite rumors at the time of potential fallout from team management towards anyone becoming involved with the union. “At the time, we heard a number of horror stories and rumors that anyone becoming involved with the union would receive unfavorable fallout from team management,” recounted Regier.  “I am not exactly sure if those rumors were true, but thanks to the urging of my teammate, Glenn Patrick, I was up to the task.”  Regier would later be elected as President of the PHPA Executive Committee, bringing many issues to the forefront on behalf of the Membership.

“Darcy was a voice of reason who exemplified tremendous leadership, which is evident given his current position as General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres,” said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon.  “My respect for Darcy remains as high as the day I first met him.  He was incredibly passionate about what the PHPA could become, and he gave all of us on the Executive Committee at that time, the courage and confidence to carry the torch moving forward.  Given my first hand experience working with Darcy as a Member of the PHPA Executive Committee, it comes as no surprise that he would be selected by the PHPA Executive Committee for this award.”

“I am truly honored to receive this award from the PHPA.  I have fond memories of working with Curt on behalf of the PHPA Membership,” said Regier. 

Although he doesn’t believe he left any sort of legacy during his involvement with the PHPA, despite being honored as recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Member Award, Regier simply concedes, “All along, I felt that what I did was the right thing to do at the time for the Players.”

Previous winners of the Award include Doug Messier (2008), the tandem of Don Cherry and Ron MacLean (2009), and Arlo Goodwin (2010).  Long time PHPA General Counsel, Ron Jaros, was recently announced as the 2012 recipient of the Award.