Yaniv Perets Is Primed To Take The Net Right Away.

Apr 6, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Quinnipiac goaltender Yaniv Perets (1) saves a shot from Michigan forward Nolan Moyle (27) during the second period in the semifinals of the 2023 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

Can you see it? I can. Yaniv Perets in a Greensboro Rivets setup in his AHL debut. Throwback Whaler’s green and blue color scheme. The Greensboro Coliseum is full of old North staters whipped into a frenzy for a North Carolina AHL hockey game.

For the pièce de résistance, Skylar Brind’Amour starting for the Charlotte Checkers on the other side. I’m driving to GSO or Charlotte just to see that.

Even if I have to take off work.

So maybe it isn’t the Greensboro Rivets that Perets is playing for, BUT we can dream.

Wherever the Carolina Hurricanes land their AHL affiliation, the 6’1″ netminder from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, CAN will be a much-needed stalwart in the net. With Pyotr Kochetkov hopefully playing with the Hurricanes full-time next season, the AHL goaltending situation is wide open for Perets to take over in his first professional season.

Last season the Chicago Wolves cycled through four goalies though Zachary Sawchenko saw the most service while Kochetkov was with the Canes. In 41 games his final line runs 119 GA 1014 SVS 3.10 GAA 0.895 SV%. With 17 wins and 18 losses, his year was indicative of Chicago’s season.

Cale Morris played 7 games with the Wolves but spent most of the season with the ECHL Norfolk Admirals. Much like Sawchenko, his numbers shade toward the average. With the Admirals he played 25 games, gave up 84, and had a goals-against average above 3.00. A save percentage of .879 coupled with the high GAA explains a record of 10 wins to 14 losses.

Jacob Kucharski finished his year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in time for one late-season game in Chicago. Kurcharski also had a losing record at 8 and 9 with the Mavericks. However, his 2.72 GAA and .903 SV% in 20 games would put him in the running with Carolina’s top three of Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta, and Pyotr Kochetkov. Besides Perets, Kucharski is the most successful of AHL prospects for the Hurricanes

Apr 8, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Quinnipiac goaltender Yaniv Perets (1) makes a save against Minnesota forward Matthew Knies (89) in the first period during the national championship game of the 2023 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

With the National Champion Quinnipiac Bobcats, Perets had his best year in Hamden. A 34-4-3 record with 10 shutouts helped the Bobcats to their first championship in school history.

Perets ended the year with a 1.49 GAA and .931 SV% before signing a 2-year deal with the Hurricanes. While at Quinnipiac, Perets finished behind Buffalo Sabres goalie, and former teammate on the Lac St-Louis Lions, Devon Levi in the voting for the Mike Richter Award two seasons in a row.

Carolina can use some goalie help with their AHL team. Chicago’s woes in the net kept the defending Calder Cup Champions out of the playoffs despite a late-season surge. Kochetkov’s stints with the Hurricanes left the duties solely on Sawchenko and his inability to keep the puck out of the net was noticeable.

Yaniv Perets is already a solid contender to take the net wherever the Canes drop their AHL affiliation. We can certainly hope it is in Greensboro. An opening day, rivalry game for North Carolina AHL hockey bragging rights between Perets the rookie goaltender, and Brind’Amour the rookie centre would be worth the price of admission and then some!

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