There are those players with immediate success, to whom everything comes naturally. And there are those who have to be patient, go through the stages one by one, sometimes taking a few detours.

Montreal goaltender Yaniv Perets falls into that second category, and he’s not complaining about it. As he says so well himself, “everyone goes their own way”. His, which led him to sign his first NHL contract on April 11 with the Carolina Hurricanes at the age of 23, was a little longer.

For the past few years, Perets has played in Ontario Junior A for two seasons, then in the NCDC, a Northeast American development league, with hopes of reaching the NCAA. The bet paid off: he signed up with the Bobcats of Quinnipiac, Connecticut.

In his first season on the American circuit, at age 20, Perets only played two games. The following year, when he was handed the net for good, he maintained a prodigious 1.17 goals-against average.

This season, his third in the NCAA, he posted a .931 save percentage in 41 games and a commanding 34-4-3 record, leading his team to the national championship. His name was on everyone’s lips. For the second season in a row, he was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey-Baker Trophy, awarded to the most valuable college player in the United States.

Throughout the season, the young man wanted to hear nothing about his agent’s negotiations with NHL teams. “I put my focus on my game, to be the best I can be on the ice,” he explains. What happens outside the rink happens. I don’t like focusing on that. »

It was only after he had won the championship that his agent told him of the offers that were available to him. And they were many. “You can think about how you would react to getting that call, when you actually get it, it’s pretty crazy,” he says. It was a really special moment. »

Never drafted, Perets never felt sorry for himself or stopped believing in himself, his mentality being summed up as follows: “Things happen the way they should happen when you are prepared, when you work strong and that we continue to improve. »

“Would I have liked to have been drafted? Yes, I think any gamer would say that. But I was not. And I’m not here trying to prove anyone wrong, or to change things. […] You just have to move on and believe in yourself. I’m very happy things worked out; [it is the fruit of] hard work. »

The young man, who speaks with ease and maturity, insists on attributing much of the credit for his success to his teammates, “a generous group of players”. “I’m super privileged to have these players in front of me,” he adds, praising their work habits.

“I really think my last two years here [at Quinnipiac] have helped me a lot and shaped the player and person I am today. I wouldn’t change that for the world. I’m super happy to have come to the NCAA and I think it was important that I give myself these few more years to really develop myself. »

The reasons that pushed Perets to opt for the Carolina Hurricanes are various. The fact that he was playing with head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s son, Skyler, is one of them.

“[Rod Brind’Amour] has seen me play often in the last two years at Quinnipiac, explains the native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux. He knows me a little more as an individual. He knows my work ethic, the way I play. I think that makes a big difference. »

After signing his contract with the Hurricanes, Perets joined their American League farm club in Chicago for a week. He had the opportunity to experience a professional environment and to meet players and members of the organization.

On Monday, at the time of our interview, he was back in Quinnipiac, where he is finishing his semester. And he was still struggling to realize the four “crazy” weeks he had just had.

“When I think back to all the work, to the sometimes difficult days…I think it’s important to take a step back and realize what happened in those two years,” he says before list one by one each person who has had an impact on his journey.

Perets now intends to use the upcoming summer to prepare for training camp in September. According to his agent, Jonathan Lachance, the Hurricanes “told him to come to camp [with the objective of] making the team.”

“I’m just thrilled. I’m going there with no expectations, says Perets. […] Obviously, I want to play in the NHL. It’s my goal. I’m going to take it one day at a time and keep working hard. »

A recipe that has worked pretty well so far.