Perugini brothers make OHL history

By Brad Young

The stage was set for a historical evening at the Barrie Molson Centre on Thursday, September 20th 2007 as the Barrie Colts hosted the Ottawa 67’s. This was a special night that Ontario Hockey League fans and the Perugini family will remember for a very long time.

Goaltenders Chris Perugini of the Ottawa 67’s and Andrew Perugini of the Barrie Colts were pitted against each other at opposite ends of the ice in the Colts season opener. Chris was making his OHL debut with the 67’s against his elder brother, Andrew, who is entering his third OHL season with the Colts.

The OHL is no stranger to witnessing brothers competing with and against each other over the years. Last season, the Donati brothers battled each other in the Eastern Conference Championship with Tyler playing for the Belleville Bulls and Justin with the Sudbury Wolves. These dynamic brothers were also OHL teammates with the St. Michael’s Majors.
Marc Staal and youngest brother Jared were teammates last season with the Wolves. Marc competed against his brother Jordan the previous season while Jordan was a member of the Peterborough Petes.

However, having two brothers square off against each other between the pipes was a first in the OHL and it made for a memorable evening. Claudio Perugini, father to Chris and Andrew, enjoyed the experience immensely along with his entire family and friends at the game, but admits he was quite nervous as well.

“It was almost numbing,” said Claudio Perugini. “You’re sitting their in a bit of a trance, you can’t really cheer and you just don’t know what to say or what to do. I just kept praying the puck would stay in the neutral zone for the duration of the game.”
Unfortunately, for Claudio and the rest of his family, the score didn’t end in a 0-0 draw. Instead, the game ended with a 5-4 decision in favour of the 67’s with younger brother Chris earning the victory.

Claudio was clearly proud of both his boys on this night. “It’s been both of their dreams to play in the OHL,” commented Perugini. “Once Chris saw his brother play in the OHL, it just made him want it that much more. We didn’t expect Chris to make the team this year, but Chris looked good at the camp and Brian Kilrea thought it was the best thing for him to be in Ottawa.”

Kilrea’s decision to keep Chris on the team paid off as this young netminder turned aside 41 shots en route to the 67’s come from behind victory over the Colts.

“When I came to talk to him about coming to Ottawa, I told him — in the kitchen of his family home, with his brother sitting there listening — that if he made our team that I would start him against Barrie if his brother was starting,” Kilrea told the Barrie Examiner after Thursday’s game.

“And sure enough, I looked at the schedule later and I found out that we played Barrie in the season opener,” he added with a chuckle. “I don’t go back on my promises.”

It was bitter sweet for youngest brother, Chris, who was happy the 67’s won the game. “It was a huge win for us,” said younger brother Chris after the game. “It was really different to play against Andrew. I’ve come to every game here the last two years, but it’s so different to be playing. It was really weird before the game to look down the ice and see my brother.”

Andrew echoed the sentiments of his brother Chris. “That’s the first time we’ve ever played against each other, so it was really strange,” said the elder of the two siblings. “It was awesome to play against him. I’m really proud of him.”

This may not be the last time we see the Perugini brothers compete against each other as the two teams are scheduled to face each other three more times this season.