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Yaniv Perets follows unique road to collegiate hockey
20-year-old made NCAA debut for Quinnipiac on Saturday
It should come as little surprise that one of Yaniv Perets’ first words he ever uttered was hockey. After all, Perets’ life has largely revolved around the sport, and this from a young age.
“I was always around it,” said Perets. “My oldest brother (Adam) was playing hockey. I used to go watch him all the time. I would have the pacifier in my mouth and be playing street hockey.”
It would not be long before Perets found his way between the pipes, first recreationally on the street facing his Dollard-des-Ormeaux home, and later, across local ice hockey rinks.
The 20-year-old, who points to Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price as his idol, played his bantam and midget level hockey for the Lac St. Louis Lions. Perets was a part of U-14 and U-15 championship teams, and captured the bronze medal at the Telus Cup in 2016.
“Playing for the Lions was great,” said Perets. “We always had great teams. It’s a winning culture over there. Every single season, you are expected to win. The staff is great and they pushed us, as players, to go to school, as well, in addition to hockey. You’re always working hard every day there, they have great resources and it’s just an all-around first-class organization.”
Stints with the Brockville Braves of the Canadian Central Hockey League and the Boston Junior Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference would follow for Perets, as he sought out ways to continually improve his game. His decision paid off, as he won the 2018–19 Dineen Cup with the Bruins as league champions and was named Goaltender of the Year in the process.
Perets would return back to Canada the following season, suiting up for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He went 25–8–1 in his rookie season with the Vees, posting a 2.19 goals-against average and .918 save…
