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When Ian Perrier skates up to the crease this season, his head will be in the game, but his heart may be in Yukon.

The 26-year-old Whitehorse native is skating in his sophomore season with 脜m氓ls SK, a Division 2 Swedish hockey team in 脜m氓ls, a city of 9,000 in southern Sweden.

At the start of the season, Perrier鈥檚 grandfather died and he said he will be playing this season in honour of his memory.

鈥淎fter all the miles I鈥檝e logged on the road, and the minutes played I鈥檝e accumulated over the season, I鈥檒l be dedicating every moment of action on the ice to my grandfather and his memory,鈥� said Perrier in an email to the Star.

On his stick will be his grandfather, Marcel Perrier鈥檚 initials 鈥渁s a reminder to work hard and to put the team before myself,鈥� and on his helmet, a poppy flower with 鈥淢鈥� and 鈥淧鈥� on either side of the symbol.

鈥淎ll the members of my family affectionately called my grandfather 鈥楶oppy,鈥欌�� said Perrier. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very modest and very respectful memorial commemorating his life in our family and his role in the military years ago.

This is Perrier鈥檚 second season playing professional hockey in鈥圗urope with 脜m氓ls SK. Before that he was in net for the Westfield University Owls in Massachusetts.

Perrier got his start playing in the Whitehorse Minor Hockey League. He progressed up the leagues and has been playing hockey outside the Yukon for a decade.

When he signed with Swedish team last year, he told the Star, 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�

Last season with 脜m氓ls SK, Perrier was named the team鈥檚 MVP. According to eliteprospects.com, he had a .902 save percentage and a 3.5 GAA.

But Perrier isn鈥檛 satisfied.

鈥淩eceiving MVP last year was a big honour, but with a new season and a new coach, it鈥檚 yesterday鈥檚 news,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 meet my personal goals last season, and there is no such thing as 鈥榯oo good鈥� in the game of hockey.鈥�

With hockey season taking place in the winter, Perrier finds he misses many traditional holidays that see his family gather. He said the main thing he misses about Whitehorse is his family.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e all been extremely supportive of my endeavours, especially my parents and stepmom Lynda Campbell,鈥� said Perrier. 鈥淢y mom and dad have given me everything I鈥坔ave. Without their unwavering support, I don鈥檛 know where I鈥檇 be, but it definitely wouldn鈥檛 be across the pond doing what I love every single day.鈥�

Off the ice, Perrier is staying busy as the team鈥檚 director of marketing, putting his business marketing degree to use.

鈥淭hat tends to take up a lot of my time,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a good way to put my marketing education to use, and will hopefully open doors in the future when I鈥檓 ready to move on from the sport.鈥�

On the ice this season, Perrier hopes for even more improvement. He said his goals are pretty simple. He wants to help his team win more than half this season鈥檚 games and to help 脜m氓ls SK to its first playoff berth in six years.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to have to be on top of my game every night,鈥� he said.

脜m氓ls SK has played five games so far in the regular season. They are 3-2, with their biggest win coming at home on Oct. 15, 6-1.

Perrier currently has a save percentage of .913 and a GAA of 2.61.

脜m氓ls SK plays their next game on Oct. 30.