Scott Perunovich
It has been an incredible run the past three seasons for Scott Perunovich (purr-roo-na-vitch). Coming off back-to-back national titles, the Bulldogs were well positioned for a three-peat led by the NCHC Player of the Year. He finished the season with six goals and 34 assists for 40 points in 34 games. Enroute, he became the first defenseman to win the regular season conference scoring title and ended up tenth overall in the nation in scoring. A tremendous playmaker, Perunovich was second in the nation in assists. Highly dangerous with the man advantage, he was tied for first in the nation in both power play points and power play assists. In addition to being named NCHC Player of the Year, Perunovich was named First Team all-conference and Offensive Defenseman of the Year – both for the third straight season. A Communications major and three-time All American, he was named national Player of the Year by College Hockey News. A draft choice of St. Louis (2nd round), he signed a pro contract with the Blues, but did not play in 2020-21 due to a pre-season injury. He split time in the 2021-22 season between St. Louis and Springfield of the AHL. Perunovich was sidelined most of the 2022-23 season after having shoulder surgery, but returned late with the Springfield Thunderbirds. He also represented Team USA at the 2023 Men’s World Championship. Perunovich spent four seasons in the St. Louis organization before being traded late in the 2024-25 season to the New York Islanders. Perunovich played the 2025-26 season with Tucson of the American Hockey League.
Top Ten:
Finished with 6 goals, 34 assists for 40 points in 34 games – 10th in nation in scoring
19 power play assists tied for first in nation – second in nation in points by a defenseman
Communication major – two-time All American – St. Louis draft (2nd round)
Career Stats
2020 Runner Up
The Fighting Hawks captured the NCHC regular season title while claiming the top spot in the pairwise rankings. They were led by the dynamic Kawaguchi (cow-uh-GOO-chee). He earned 45 points to finish second in the nation in scoring. The assistant captain was valuable in clutch situations with 13 game winning points, including five game winning goals.
- Finished with 15 goals, 30 assists for 45 points in 33 games – had 15 multi-point games
- NCHC Player of the Month (Nov. & Jan.) – national Player of the Month (Nov.)
- Marketing major – active in a variety of community service efforts
No goalie in the nation was busier than Swayman who faced more shots and made more saves than any other goaltender. He played all but seven minutes of the Black Bears season, starting 33 of 34 games. An explosive skater with exceptional anticipation skills, he finished second in the nation in save percentage. Swayman is a finalist for Hockey East Player of the Year.
- His final record was: 18-11-5 – goals against average of 2.07 – save percentage of .939
- Posted three shutouts, all in the final five games – Boston draft (4th round)
- Business Management major – assists at local schools, hospitals and with youth teams
- Winner of Walter Brown Award given to the top American-born player in New England