Yaniv Perets Bio
Yaniv Perets is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL), the top developmental affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and catching with his left hand, Perets has built a reputation through record-setting performances at the collegiate and junior levels before turning professional. As an undrafted free agent, he has continued to climb the professional ranks through steady development and high-level goaltending production.
Born and raised in Quebec, Perets developed his craft in Canadian youth and junior hockey before emerging as one of the most decorated goaltenders in college hockey during his time at Quinnipiac University. He is recognized for his calm presence in the crease, technical precision, and consistent statistical excellence, attributes that have carried him into the professional ranks of the AHL and briefly the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early Life and Background
Yaniv Perets was born on March 4, 2000, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada. A suburb located on the West Island of Montreal, Dollard-des-Ormeaux provided the foundation for Perets’ early development in hockey, where he grew up playing on local rinks and youth programs. He is of Jewish heritage, a part of his identity that has been noted throughout his career.
From an early age, Perets shared the ice with another goaltender who would also rise through the ranks, Devon Levi. The two were childhood friends and played on the same youth teams for several years, sharpening their skills together and pushing each other in competition. Perets attended West Island College in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, balancing his academic responsibilities with the demands of elite-level hockey development.
Path to Hockey
Perets’ progression toward competitive hockey began in the North American junior system, where he joined the Boston Junior Bruins of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) during the 2018-19 season. Appearing in 36 games, he posted a 23-10-1 record, a 2.48 goals-against average (GAA), and a .929 save percentage. His performance that season earned him the NCDC Goaltender of the Year award and helped lead the Bruins to the Dineen Cup as league champions. In October 2018, he committed to play college ice hockey for the Quinnipiac Bobcats beginning with the 2020-21 season.
The following year, Perets joined the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), one of Canada’s premier junior development leagues. He spent multiple seasons with the Vees, building impressive numbers and finishing among the league’s statistical leaders in wins, GAA, save percentage, and shutouts. He also helped the Vees capture the BCHL’s Okanagan Cup, demonstrating his ability to perform in high-pressure postseason environments before transitioning to the NCAA.
Yaniv Perets Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Perets’ most formative developmental years came in junior hockey with the Boston Junior Bruins and Penticton Vees, where he cemented himself as one of the top young goaltenders in North America. In the BCHL, he led or co-led the Vees in several key goaltending categories across multiple seasons, while helping the program capture conference and league honors. His poise under heavy shot volume and ability to steal games made him a proven winner at the junior level.
He joined the Quinnipiac Bobcats in January 2021, making his collegiate debut on February 13, 2021, in a 9-0 win against Colgate. The early stretch of his college career quickly set the stage for what would become one of the most statistically dominant individual seasons in ECAC Hockey history.
Quinnipiac Bobcats Collegiate Career (2021-2023)
Perets produced a record-breaking 2021-22 campaign for the Quinnipiac Bobcats, posting a 22-5-2 record with a 1.17 GAA, a .939 save percentage, and 11 shutouts. He led the NCAA in save percentage, GAA, and shutouts that season and set the ECAC Hockey league record in all three categories, putting together one of the most accomplished goaltending seasons in league history. He was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, won the Ken Dryden Award, was named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team, and was an AHCA East Second Team All-American.
His excellence during the season also earned him national recognition, including selection as a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and a top-three finalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the top goaltender in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. He was also named ECAC Hockey Player of the Month for four consecutive months from November through February, a testament to his remarkable consistency throughout the year.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2023-2024)
Following his distinguished college career, Perets signed with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2023-24 season. He appeared in two preseason games with the Hurricanes before being reassigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, where he continued his professional development. He was briefly recalled to the Hurricanes in December 2023, though he was returned to the minors later that same month without seeing regular-season action.
Perets made his NHL debut for the Hurricanes on January 15, 2024, appearing in relief of starter Antti Raanta against the Los Angeles Kings. The appearance marked the realization of a lifelong goal and provided valuable experience at the highest level of professional hockey.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Era (2025-Present)
As a free agent following two seasons within the Hurricanes organization, Perets signed a one-year AHL contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the primary developmental affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, on July 23, 2025. The move positioned him within a new organizational structure focused on player development and provided an opportunity to compete for significant playing time at the AHL level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Perets is widely regarded for his technical soundness, calm demeanor, and elite-level numbers in high-volume shooting situations. His ability to post consistently elite save percentages and GAA marks across the BCHL, ECAC Hockey, and NCAA reflects a goaltender whose positioning, rebound control, and mental focus translate well from one competitive environment to the next. His left-catching style and compact frame allow him to seal the lower portion of the net effectively against shooters at every level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Perets’ most notable milestones are his ECAC Hockey league records in save percentage, GAA, and shutouts, his 2022 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year honor, and his Hobey Baker Award top-ten finalist recognition. His NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes on January 15, 2024, stands as another major career milestone, along with the Dineen Cup championship with the Boston Junior Bruins and the Okanagan Cup with the Penticton Vees.
Yaniv Perets Career Wins
Across his junior, collegiate, and professional career, Yaniv Perets has compiled an impressive record of wins, highlighted by a 22-5-2 mark in his record-setting 2021-22 NCAA season with Quinnipiac and a 25-8-1 record in 2019-20 with the Penticton Vees. His win totals reflect a goaltender who has consistently been entrusted with starting duties and who has delivered in key matchups.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
Perets won 23 games with the Boston Junior Bruins in 2018-19 and added 25 the following season with the Penticton Vees, helping the program reach the BCHL playoffs. His 22 wins in 2021-22 powered the Quinnipiac Bobcats to one of their most successful seasons in program history, with his goaltending serving as the foundation of the team’s success.
Professional Performances
Since turning professional in 2023, Perets has progressed through the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, the AHL, and briefly the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes, before joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2025. His journey through multiple professional levels underscores his continued development and organizational value as a depth goaltender prospect.
Yaniv Perets Family
Family Background and Heritage
Yaniv Perets was raised in a Jewish household in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, an aspect of his background that has been noted in coverage of his career. His family supported his early hockey development, and his long friendship with fellow goaltender Devon Levi, dating back to childhood, has been a defining part of his personal and athletic life.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Perets has remained focused on his professional hockey career, with limited public details about his personal relationships. He continues to be recognized as a promising young Canadian goaltender working toward an extended career in professional hockey.
2025 Season Performance
Yaniv Perets began the 2025-26 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after signing his AHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers’ affiliate in July 2025. The move marked a fresh start in a new organization, with Perets positioned to compete for meaningful minutes within a developing goaltending depth chart. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have continued their role as a development pipeline for the Philadelphia Flyers, and Perets’ statistical profile from his college days suggests he could quickly establish himself as a reliable option in net.
Throughout the early portion of the season, Perets has been adjusting to the pace and structure of professional hockey in a new system. His college resume, including NCAA-leading marks in save percentage, GAA, and shutouts, has set a high standard that he will look to replicate at the AHL level. The organization is expected to give him consistent opportunities to build on his development, particularly against AHL opponents where his lateral quickness and puck-tracking ability can be tested regularly.
Looking ahead, Perets’ primary objective for the 2025-26 season is to solidify his standing as a top goaltending prospect within the Flyers organization and position himself for potential NHL opportunities down the line. His combination of proven statistical production, NHL experience from his 2024 debut, and continued physical development make him a name to watch as the season progresses.