University of Vermont Athletics

Eric Perrin 1997 - Hockey

An All-American hockey player and three-time All-ECAC center, Eric Perrin wrapped up his standout four-year career as Vermont's all-time leading goal scorer and ranks second in points and assists. Inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame in 2007, he helped lead the Catamounts to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and the school's first trip to the Frozen Four in 1996.

The linemate of fellow inductee Martin St. Louis '97 in junior hockey in their hometown of Laval, Quebec, at UVM and all the way to the NHL, Perrin scored 107 goals, the only Catamount to reach the century mark in goals, and had 149 assists for 256 career points in his career. He and St. Louis, known as the 'French Connection' at Vermont, electrified fans at Gutterson Fieldhouse and throughout the nation in their four seasons with the Catamounts.

Along with St. Louis and another 2007 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Tim Thomas '97, he was named to the ECAC All-Decade Team for the 1990s and was selected to UVM's All-Time Team, 'The ECAC Years' in 2006.

Just 5-foot-9, he was the most durable player in UVM hockey history never missing a game in four seasons skating in 142 consecutive games. He was an assistant captain of the Catamounts as a junior and a senior.

Perrin led the nation's freshmen with 24 goals and had 21 assists earning ECAC Rookie of the Year honors in 1993-94. He led the Catamounts in goals in 1994-95 with 28 and was second to St. Louis in points with 67. He was named to the All-ECAC First Team after he and St. Louis tied for the league scoring title with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 22 conference games.

His junior year was the finest in Vermont hockey history as the Catamounts won the ECAC Regular Season Championship, earned a bye into the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament and made UVM's first trip to the Frozen Four. Perrin tallied 85 points on 29 goals and 56 assists in 38 games equaling St. Louis in each category as the pair set UVM single-season records for points and assists. He was named the 1996 ECAC Player of the Year and earned another spot on the All-ECAC First Team. Along with St. Louis and Thomas, he was named a first team All-American. A finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, he also was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team.

As a senior he scored 26 goals and had 33 assists as Vermont advanced to the NCAAs for the second straight season. He was an All-ECAC second-team selection after becoming the first Catamount to record four 20-goal seasons.

After several years overseas and in the North American minor leagues, his persistence and hard work in pursuing a pro hockey career paid off in 2003-04 when he made his debut in the National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning along side St. Louis. That spring he reached the hockey pinnacle as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup. After another season in the AHL and one in Switzerland, he rejoined Tampa Bay was a key player in 2006-07 skating in all 82 games for the Lightning in their run to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
In the summer of 2007, Perrin signed a two-year contract to play for the Atlanta Thrashers.