Scott Perunovich Bio
Scott Douglas Perunovich is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently signed with the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on August 18, 1998, in Hibbing, Minnesota, he is recognized for his offensive instincts, skating ability, and playmaking from the blue line. He first came to national prominence during his collegiate career with the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he became one of the most decorated defensemen in program history.
Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Perunovich has continued to develop as a smooth, puck-moving defenseman at the professional level. Beyond his club career, he has also represented the United States in international junior competition, contributing to a bronze medal at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Early Life and Background
Scott Douglas Perunovich was born to Jim Perunovich and Susan Perunovich on August 18, 1998, in Hibbing, Minnesota, a small community on the Mesabi Range known for its strong hockey tradition. He is of Montenegrin descent, with his paternal great-grandparents, Nikola and Stana Perunović, having immigrated to Hibbing from Montenegro. His ancestors were part of the Pješivci tribe and had a history of resisting the invading Ottoman Empire, a heritage that remains a point of family pride.
Perunovich grew up in a household with strong athletic and academic influences. His uncle, Doug Torrel, played for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs from 1988 to 1992 and was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1987, giving Perunovich an early connection to the program he would later join. He began figure skating lessons at the age of four, an unusual start that helped build his edge work and balance before he transitioned to hockey. He attended Hibbing High School from 2014 to 2017, where he played three seasons of prep hockey and also competed on the tennis team.
While playing for the Hibbing High School Bluejackets Bantam A team in 2014, Perunovich was drafted by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League. He initially chose to stay at Hibbing, where he led the team to a 37–10–5 record and was named a finalist for Bantam Player of the Year. During his high school years, he also partnered with Jake Jolowsky to win the Section 7A doubles title in tennis and qualify for the Minnesota state tournament three consecutive seasons, ultimately being named Tennis Player of the Year by several regional publications.
Path to Hockey
In 2015, Perunovich committed to play Division I hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth starting in the 2017–18 season. Team USA head coach Derek Plante, who helped recruit him to the Bulldogs, described him as a very crafty and smart hockey player. That same year, he was invited to join the U.S. National Under-18 Team for two games against St. Cloud State, giving him early exposure to high-level competition.
Perunovich spent one season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders after high school, though he struggled with being away from home and finished with the worst plus-minus rating in the league. Despite that difficult season, his vision and offensive talent remained evident, and he arrived at Minnesota Duluth ready to contribute immediately.
Scott Perunovich Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Perunovich enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota Duluth, majoring in communications. He played 42 games for the Bulldogs during the 2017–18 season and recorded his first collegiate goal in a 4–3 loss to Michigan Tech on October 7, 2017. He ended his freshman year with 36 points, tying for fourth nationally among all defensemen and third among freshmen.
His stellar play earned him AHCA East First-Team All-American, NCHC First All-Conference Team, All-Tournament Team, NCHC All-Rookie Team, NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year, and NCHC Rookie of the Year honors. He became the first Minnesota Duluth player to win both the Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year awards in the same season and set a new Bulldogs record for points by a freshman defenseman. His efforts helped the Bulldogs win the NCAA National Championship, and he was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. He was also the first NCHC player to receive the Tim Taylor Award as men’s Division I National Rookie of the Year.
NCHC and Hobey Baker Era (2018–2020)
Perunovich returned for his sophomore season and was named the NCAA First Star of the Week on October 23, 2018, after recording six points in two games against Maine. He was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award on January 17, 2019, and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2019 NCHC Tournament with 27 points. After missing time due to injury, he returned to help the team defeat St. Cloud State 3–2 to qualify for the NCAA Championship. He won his second consecutive NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year award and was named an AHCA East Second-Team All-American as the Bulldogs clinched a second straight NCAA title with a 3–0 win over UMass.
During his junior season in 2019–20, Perunovich ranked second in the NCHC in assists with 34 and became the first defenseman to lead the conference in scoring. After the collegiate season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues allowing him to play if the NHL resumed. He was then announced as the winner of the 2020 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player, becoming the sixth Bulldog to receive the honor. He also won his third straight NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year award.
St. Louis Blues Era (2020–2025)
Perunovich agreed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Blues on March 28, 2020, and was assigned to the AHL’s Utica Comets for the 2020–21 season. In February 2021, he was announced to miss most of the year while recovering from shoulder surgery. In September 2021, he was named team captain of the Blues Prospects Team during the NHL’s Traverse City prospect tournament.
Perunovich made his NHL debut with the Blues on November 18, 2021, against the San Jose Sharks, recording his first NHL point with an assist. On June 24, 2023, as a restricted free agent, he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension with St. Louis. During the 2024–25 season, he played primarily in a third-pairing role, registering 2 goals and 6 points in 24 appearances. On January 27, 2025, he was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.
Utah Mammoth Era (2025–Present)
As a free agent following his time with the Islanders, Perunovich signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth for the 2025–26 season on July 1, 2025. The move returned him to the Central Division and gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for an NHL roster spot. He is also expected to play for the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL as part of the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Perunovich is widely regarded as a puck-moving, offensively gifted defenseman with exceptional vision and passing ability. Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin often referred to him as a fourth forward because of his comfort carrying the puck and creating offense from the back end. Perunovich has said he models his game after NHL defenseman Torey Krug, a comparable blend of skill, mobility, and offensive creativity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout achievements, Perunovich scored the only goal for Team USA in the first outdoor game in World Juniors history, eliminating a two-goal deficit in a 4–3 win over Canada during the 2018 tournament. He is also one of only a handful of defensemen to lead an NCAA conference in scoring and remains the only NCHC player to win the Tim Taylor Award.
Scott Perunovich Career Wins
Scott Douglas Perunovich’s trophy case reflects both individual excellence and team success across the junior, collegiate, and professional levels. His most prominent honors include the 2020 Hobey Baker Award, three consecutive NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year awards, and two NCAA National Championship titles with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2018 and 2019.
NCHC and NCAA Highlights
Perunovich was named NCHC Rookie of the Year in 2018, won the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and earned AHCA East First-Team All-American honors as a freshman. He helped lead the Bulldogs to NCAA championships in both 2018 and 2019, cementing his place among the most accomplished defensemen in program history.
Other Wins and Performances
Perunovich won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and also represented the United States at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where the team finished fifth. In tennis at Hibbing High School, he won the Section 7A doubles title three consecutive years.
Scott Perunovich Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Perunovich was raised in Hibbing, Minnesota, by his parents, Jim and Susan Perunovich. His family is of Montenegrin descent, with his paternal great-grandparents Nikola and Stana Perunović immigrating from Montenegro to Hibbing, where the family has deep roots. His uncle, Doug Torrel, played hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth and was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, giving the family a strong athletic connection.
Personal Life
Perunovich began figure skating at the age of four, which helped shape his smooth skating and edge work as a hockey player. He attended Hibbing High School, where he balanced hockey and tennis as a multi-sport athlete. Public information about his current residence and marital status is not widely available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a transitional chapter for Scott Douglas Perunovich. During the 2024–25 NHL season with the St. Louis Blues, he appeared in 24 games, recording 2 goals and 6 points while primarily serving in a third-pairing role. His offensive flashes continued to draw attention, but a consistent roster spot remained elusive, leading to his trade to the New York Islanders on January 27, 2025, in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.
Following the trade, Perunovich’s role with the Islanders offered another opportunity to compete for NHL ice time as the team evaluated its defensive depth. He brought a steady, puck-moving presence to the organization, though his minutes were limited as he adjusted to a new system.
Looking ahead, Perunovich signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth on July 1, 2025, returning him to the Central Division. With Utah still establishing its identity as a franchise, the upcoming 2025–26 season presents a clear opportunity for him to carve out a steady role at the NHL level, supported by the organization’s developmental pipeline in Tucson.