Scott Perunovich

Perunovich played for the University of Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs from 2017 to 2020, where he enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts to major in Communications.[1] Perunovich played 42 games for the Bulldogs during the 2017–18 season[1] and recorded his first collegiate goal in a 4–3 loss to Michigan Tech on October 7, 2017.[13] Perunovich ended his freshman season with 36 points, tying fourth nationally among all defenseman and third for freshman. As a result of his outstanding play, Perunovich was named an AHCA East First-Team All-American, NCHC First All-Conference Team, NCHC All-Rookie team, All-Tournament Team, NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year, and NCHC Rookie of the Year. He was the first Minnesota–Duluth Bulldog to be named Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year and set a new Bulldogs record for most points by a freshman defenceman.[14] His prolific freshman season helped the Bulldogs win the NCAA National Championship title and he was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All–Tournament Team.[15] He was also the first NCHC player to be awarded the Tim Taylor Award as men's Division I National Rookie of the Year.[16]

Perunovich's strong play during his rookie season earned him a midterm ranking by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau,[17] for an eventual final rank of 102nd overall for North American Skaters eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[18] When asked to compare his skating, Perunovich says he models his game after NHL defenseman Torey Krug.[19] Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin also often referred to him as a "fourth forward."[20] After he had been passed over in his first two years of eligibility, the St. Louis Blues drafted Perunovich in the second round of the draft on the word of their scouts, Keith Tkachuk and J Niemiec, that he was worth the chance.[19]

Perunovich returned to the Bulldogs for his sophomore season. On October 23, 2018, Perunovich was named the NCAA First Star of the Week after he recorded six points in two back-to-back games against the Maine Black Bears.[21] On January 17, 2019, Perunovich was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award[22] and later for the Offensive Defenseman of the Year.[23] Perunovich helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2019 NCHC Tournament with 27 points, where they competed in the first round against the Omaha Mavericks.[24] On March 13, Perunovich was again selected for the NCHC First All-Conference Team.[25] Although the Bulldogs won the first game of the series against Omaha, Perunovich was forced to sit out due to injury.[26] After returning to the ice, Perunovich helped the Bulldogs defeat St. Cloud State 3–2 to qualify for the NCAA Championship.[27] He was also named the winner of NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year for the second consecutive season.[28] In the first round of the 2019 NCAA Championship, Minnesota-Duluth beat Bowling Green State University 2–1 in overtime to advance to the second round[29] where they faced the Quinnipiac Bobcats. On March 31, the Bulldogs qualified for the Frozen Four with Perunovich recording an assist in the 3–1 win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats.[30] After beating the Providence Friars 4–1,[31] Perunovich was named an AHCA East Second-Team All-American.[32] On April 13, the Bulldogs went on to clinch another NCAA Championship title after a 3–0 win over the UMass Minutemen.[33]

On July 28, 2019, Perunovich committed to another year with the Bulldogs[34] and proved once again to be an asset to the team. During his junior season, Perunovich ranked second in the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) in assists with 34 and becoming the first defenceman to lead the NCHA in scoring.[35] After his collegiate season was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic, Perunovich signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues allowing him to play with the team if the NHL season continues.[36] He was later announced the winner of the 2020 Hobey Baker Award for being the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player[37] and NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year for the third consecutive season.[38] Perunovich became the sixth Bulldogs player in the team's history to receive the Hobey Baker Award.[35]