1. Life and Background
Eric Regan's personal journey in ice hockey began in his native Canada, eventually leading him to embrace a new nationality to contribute to the growth of ice hockey in South Korea.
1.1. Early Life
Eric Regan was born on May 20, 1988. He began his major junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), playing for the Erie Otters from 2004 to 2005, and later for the Oshawa Generals from 2005 to 2008, where he developed his skills as a defenseman.
1.2. Naturalization to South Korea
After spending two years playing professional ice hockey in South Korea, Eric Regan was granted South Korean citizenship. This naturalization allowed him to join the South Korean national team and make his international debut, significantly impacting his career by enabling him to participate in prestigious global tournaments representing his new country.
2. Playing Career
Eric Regan's playing career spans across North America, Europe, and Asia, marking significant contributions to various teams and leagues.
2.1. Junior Career
Regan's foundational years in ice hockey were spent in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the premier junior hockey leagues in North America. He played for the Erie Otters during the 2004-05 season. Later, from 2005 to 2008, he was a key player for the Oshawa Generals. His time in junior hockey helped him hone his defensive skills and prepare for a professional career.
2.2. Professional Club Career
Regan's professional journey took him through several leagues across different continents, showcasing his adaptability and consistent performance.
2.2.1. North American Leagues
Undrafted out of junior hockey, Eric Regan was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks on September 22, 2008, to a three-year, entry-level contract. During his time within the Ducks' affiliations, he played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Iowa Chops in the 2008-09 season, and for the San Antonio Rampage in the 2009-10 season. He also had stints in the ECHL with the Bakersfield Condors during the 2009-10 season and the Elmira Jackals in the 2010-11 season. He concluded his North American professional career with a brief appearance for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL during the 2010-11 season.
2.2.2. European Leagues
Following the completion of his entry-level contract in North America, Regan moved to Europe. On June 7, 2011, he signed a one-year contract with the German DEL team, the Hannover Scorpions. He played for the Scorpions for two seasons, from 2011 to 2013, before deciding to leave Germany for a new challenge in Asia.
2.2.3. Asia League Ice Hockey
On August 9, 2013, Eric Regan signed with the Japanese club, Nippon Paper Cranes, marking his entry into the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALH). After one season with Nippon Paper Cranes, he joined High1 for the 2014-15 season. On May 29, 2015, Regan left High1 and signed a one-year contract with his third ALH club, Anyang Halla. He continued to play for Anyang Halla until 2021, becoming a significant part of the team's defense and contributing to their success in the league over multiple seasons.
2.3. International Play
After acquiring South Korean citizenship, Eric Regan became a vital member of the South Korean national ice hockey team. He made his debut for the national team at the 2016 IIHF World Championship Division I. He was part of the historic South Korean team that achieved promotion at the 2017 IIHF World Championship Division I to their first-ever top-ranked tournament, the 2018 IIHF World Championship held in Denmark. Furthermore, he was a member of South Korea's team for the 2018 Winter Olympics, where South Korea gained entry as the host nation. He also participated in the 2017 Asian Winter Games and the 2019 IIHF World Championship Division I.
3. Career Statistics
3.1. Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2004-05 | Erie Otters | OHL | 61 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005-06 | Erie Otters | OHL | 25 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2005-06 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 35 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2006-07 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 64 | 3 | 42 | 45 | 64 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 2007-08 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 67 | 8 | 40 | 48 | 56 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 26 | ||
| 2008-09 | Iowa Chops | AHL | 59 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2009-10 | Bakersfield Condors | ECHL | 59 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 46 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2009-10 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2010-11 | Elmira Jackals | ECHL | 54 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2010-11 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2011-12 | Hannover Scorpions | DEL | 33 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 67 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2012-13 | Hannover Scorpions | DEL | 51 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 54 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2013-14 | Nippon Paper Cranes | ALH | 35 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 50 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2014-15 | High1 | ALH | 46 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 52 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2015-16 | Anyang Halla | ALH | 47 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 68 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2016-17 | Anyang Halla | ALH | 44 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2017-18 | Anyang Halla | ALH | 23 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2018-19 | Anyang Halla | ALH | 34 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2019-20 | Anyang Halla | ALH | 36 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| AHL totals | 76 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 51 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| ALH totals | 265 | 61 | 160 | 221 | 222 | 42 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 18 | ||||
3.2. International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | South Korea | WC D1A | 21st | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | |
| 2017 | South Korea | AWG | - | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | South Korea | WC D1A | 18th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | South Korea | OG | 12th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | South Korea | WC | 16th | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2019 | South Korea | WC D1A | 19th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | ||||
4. Awards and Honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| ECHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2010 | |
| First All-Star Team | 2010, 2011 | |
| Defenseman of the Year | 2011 | |