Wolves captain at home on Alberta's wide-open prairie
At the end of a long, bruising season, many professional athletes head straight for some well-deserved R&R. Chicago Wolves defenseman Brent Regner, on the other hand, heads straight to the BN Ranch.
The low-key Regner, who wears the captain's “C” on the front of his No. 28 jersey, was born and raised on the ranch (named for his parents, Bernie and Nancy) in Newbrook, Alberta, a town of 95 people an hour northeast of Edmonton.
“When you walk out of your house, you don't see another house,” Regner said. “I love it. It's private.”
By the age of 5, he was riding horses. At 10, he led a 1,320-pound calf around the ring by himself at a 4-H Club show. Because the BN Ranch is a family operation, he has been helping as long as he's been able.
These days, the sixth-year professional drives his black pickup truck home immediately after the season ends because springtime is calving season, and the Regners have a lot of Black Angus grazing on their 5,000-acre spread.
In this interview, Regner talks about ranch life, his marriage this summer and his role as a captain.
Q: Because the Wolves made the Western Conference semifinals last year you got home later than usual. Did you miss calving season?
A: I missed quite a bit of it. You get to a part where there's only 100-150 (pregnant cows) left and there are young ones, too, which are a little more tedious because you've got to pull more of those calves. But by that time it's nice out. I'm not going to say it's a breeze, but it feels like a breeze after the first 300-350 have calved.
Q: How many days did you take off once you got home?
A: We got home on a Thursday or Friday night and I was out there the next day. It's kind of my vacation because it's so different than here. I really enjoy it. It's nice to be outside all the time. I get back to Mom's cooking. Not saying my wife's not a good cook: She's a great cook.
Q: You and Jessica got married this summer (on Aug. 9). What was the ceremony like?
A: It was great. We had a really good turnout, probably 260-265 people. It rained the night before and we had an outdoor ceremony planned, so we were a bit nervous. But the next day was beautiful. We did it at our neighbor's house. They have a nice lake in their backyard. Then we went to a little community hall and had a reception.
Q: When you returned to the Northwest suburbs for this season, did Jessica find a job?
A: She did. She has a travel nursing job for Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. She's really liking it. She's a busy person.
Q: How did you learn you were going to start this season as the Wolves captain?
A: The ‘C' was on my jersey when I got to the rink on Opening Night. We didn't talk about it at all. It was a little bit of a shock. I've never worn the “C” before. This is a learning curve for me as well.
Q: Did that change at all how you felt you needed to act around the guys?
A: Maybe a little bit, but not too much. The guys know me. I'm not too loud of a guy. I pride myself on working hard and leading by example.
But we have lots of leaders in this room. You've got Brent Sopel, who's been around forever. Colin Fraser, he's won three Stanley Cups. You've got Chris Butler. Pat Cannone. I know John McCarthy was a captain in Worcester. Great leaders. It's nice to be surrounded by that.