The recent and numerous successes of New York Rangers prospect Gabriel Perreault, coupled with my scouting of Gabriel’s older brother Jacob as a midget, prompted me to dig further into the family’s background. Their exposure to hockey begins with father Yanic Perreault, a retired 14-year NHL veteran. The last team he played for was Chicago in the 2007-08 season. He currently serves as a Blackhawks’ Player Development Coach with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.
Yanic’s oldest son, Jeremy, was a forward who played junior hockey for a 14-game stint with the Chicago Cougars in the USPHL in 2017-18. Beginning in that season, he coached in the Chicago Mission youth hockey program, and coached there through the 2022-23 season. As his father’s assistant coach in his inaugural year, Jeremy was afforded the opportunity to attend the world famous Quebec Pee Wee tournament.
At the time Jeremy began his coaching career with the Mission at the pee wee level, younger brother Jacob was competing for the Mission’s 16U team. Jacob would go on to play two OHL seasons with the Sarnia Sting, and was the 27th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2020. In his pro career, Jacob has appeared in one NHL game with Anaheim in the 2021-22 season. Currently, he plays for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors in the Edmonton Oilers’ organization.
That brings us to the youngest brother, Gabriel. The New York Rangers made the dynamic forward the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, and is central scouting’s 2nd-ranked prospect in the Rangers’ system. Recently, Gabriel won his second consecutive gold medal with Team USA at the U20 world juniors, to go with his gold at the 2023 U18 world juniors. Also, he plays for Boston College in the NCAA, and was part of last season’s national runner-up team. After receiving college hockey’s #1 ranking this week, BC is well-positioned to make another run at the national championship. So far this season, Gabriel has 28 points (8G 20A) for the Eagles.
Not to be outdone by her brothers, 24-year-old Liliane Perreault is a hockey force in her own right. Liliane played five seasons for Mercyhurst University, amassing 80 points (30G 50A) in her college career. For the past two seasons, she has played for Sweden’s top women’s professional league (the SDHL), where she has totaled 23 points (13G 10A) in 42 games.