Former Trinity Western University soccer star Nick Perugini has taken his place in the Canada West Hall of Fame.
He was announced as the latest inductee Tuesday, as CW continued to celebrate 100 years of university sport in Western Canada.
Perugini told the Langley Advance Times he was “super humbled” by the announcement.
“It feels like such a long time ago,” Perugini commented.
During a decorated five-year career with the Spartans, Perugini was named a Canada West All-Star in all five of his seasons and earned four consecutive All-Canadians selections between 2004 and 2007.
He was named top rookie in Canada West for 2003 and received the 2006 Canada West Student Athlete of the Year award.
In 2006 he helped the Spartans reach the CIS championship final for the first time in program history, where the team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to the host Alberta Golden Bears.
He capped off his career in 2007 when he was named both the CIS and Canada West Player of the Year while captaining the Spartans to a third consecutive Canada West championship.
While a Spartan, Perugini established TWU career records in assists, shots, shots on goal, games started, and minutes played. He also set TWU single-season marks for assists, games started with and minutes played.
He also represented his country at the 2007 World University Games in Thailand, where Canada finished fourth in men’s soccer.
After graduating, Perugini joined the UBC Thunderbirds as an assistant coach.
From 2012 to 2017, he served as assistant technical director for Vancouver United FC, before moving on to his present role as assistant technical director with Surrey United SC.
Perugini returned to TWU as an assistant soccer coach in 2018.
“It’s been cool,” is how he described his return.
He was bracing himself for the team’s reaction to his induction, predicting “I know I’m going to get razzed.”
In his second season at Trinity, the men’s soccer team has been struggling, Perugini noted.
“It’s been an interesting season. It’s been up and down.”
He praised the team for enduring losses without buckling, saying he has been “astonished” by their resilience, and is optimistic they will prevail.
Prior to coming to TWU, Perugini spent his teenage years playing within the academy system for French Division 2 side Chamois Niortais FC.
His highest level of play was for the Canadian junior national team where he played with both the U17 and U20 programs.
Closer to home, Perugini also won a provincial championship with the Surrey United Firefighters in 2011.
Perugini, who lives in North Delta, is the fourth TWU student-athlete named to the hall.
