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GOING PRO 鈥� Yukon goaltender Ian Perrier makes a save for Westfield State University last season. The 24-year-old has signed a one-year contract with Åmåls Sportklubb, a Division 2 pro hockey team in Sweden.
Trailblazing goalie signs pro contract in Sweden
When Ian Perrier enters the crease for Åmåls Sportklubb this season, he will be making Yukon history.
When Ian Perrier enters the crease for 脜m氓ls Sportklubb this season, he will be making Yukon history.
The 24-year-old Whitehorse native will become the first goalie from the territory to suit up in a professional game.
脜m氓ls SK is a Division 2 team in Amal, a city of 9,000 in south Sweden.
The six-foot-two, 190-pound butterfly goalie says he expects the starting job is his to lose, noting a young Swedish goalie is also on the roster.
The season, including tournaments, will total about 40 games, he said.
Perrier said he is the first goalie from the Yukon to sign a professional deal and wants to continue climbing the hockey ranks.
鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to have the opportunity to continue doing what I love to do,鈥� he told the Star Saturday, before leaving for Sweden Sunday. 鈥淚 want to play until nobody wants me or my body can鈥檛 take it anymore.鈥�
Perrier, the son of Gerry and Laura Perrier, is the only hockey player in the family of four.
He spent the last three seasons as a netminder with the Westfield State University Owls in Massachusetts, graduating with a business marketing degree.
His best statistical season came in 2012-2013, when he finished with a 12-7-2 record alongside a .921 save percentage and 2.93 goals-against average (GAA) 鈥� club records at the time.
His first year of college play was with the Northland College Lumberjacks in Wisconsin, where he set club records in GAA (3.60) and save percentage (.909).
鈥淲ithout those opportunities, playing hockey at the next level would have been nothing short of a pipe dream,鈥濃�圥errier stated in a note on his Facebook page.
鈥淚鈥坈an鈥檛 wait for this next chapter of my life to get started, and look forward to proving myself to those who believe in me. Even more so to the ones who don鈥檛.鈥�
Perrier鈥檚 former Lumberjack teammate Garrett Nystedt will also don 脜m氓ls鈥� yellow, black and white jersey this season.
Nystedt reached out to Perrier, advising him to send a stats package and game tape to the club鈥檚 front office.
鈥淚 wanted to continue playing hockey,鈥� Perrier said of his decision to try the European circuit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a stepping stone. ... I鈥檝e never been to Europe and see it as a semester abroad. I feel like I鈥檓 very prepared for it. Every time I鈥檝e gotten an opportunity to play, I鈥檝e risen to the occasion.鈥�
He expects to do the same in Sweden, where he will to play in arenas across the Scandinavian country.
While Perrier declined to reveal the monetary terms of his deal, he said the team will be taking care of his living expenses.
Perrier spent the 2010-2011 season with the Dryden Ice Dogs, carrying the team to the Superior International Junior Hockey League鈥坒inals with a 26-13-2 record, alongside his lowest-ever GAA for a season at 2.41.
Former Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) head coach Clint Mylymok was behind Dryden鈥檚 bench that season.
Perrier also spent a junior season with the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2008-2009.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 been an easy ride to here. It鈥檚 been full of hiccups,鈥� the Yukoner said. 鈥淏ut I couldn鈥檛 take no for an answer, basically.鈥�
Perrier first started skating in Whitehorse at the age of four.
He continues to hold fond memories of his days with the WMHA, highlighting his peewee coach Dale McGowan as laying the foundation for his hockey career.
In bantam, Perrier led the Whitehorse Mustangs to a provincial silver medal. He also guided the Yukon to gold and bronze medal victories at two Arctic Winter Games tournaments.
A session with goalie coach Eli Wilson after getting cut by the Western Hockey League鈥檚 Kamloops Blazers as a 14-year-old helped refine Perrier鈥檚 butterfly style.
His parents were also instrumental in terms of his career advancement, and Perrier said his mother once served as WMHA鈥坧resident when it appeared no one else would take the position.
鈥淭hey supported me in every way,鈥濃�圥errier said. 鈥淚t was unwavering. Thank you isn鈥檛 enough.鈥�
At times Perrier felt like a 鈥済uinea pig鈥� as a trailblazing Yukon goalie, but he said young players from the North can鈥檛 be afraid to put themselves out there.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much better to have failed attempts than being too afraid to try.鈥�
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Comments (2)
Up 2 Down 0
Yukon 56 on Sep 4, 2015 at 7:54 pm
It鈥檚 much better to have failed attempts than being too afraid to try.鈥� What a statement that refreshes what our youth can achieve
Up 7 Down 0
Laura Hureau on Sep 1, 2015 at 8:23 pm
Ian we are so very proud of you.
This young man has worked hard - there is absolutely no doubt about that. I would also like to thank his Uncle Mark and his stepmom Linda for their unwavering support as well.