Antoine Vermette |
Wiki |
Antoine Vermette (born July 20, 1982) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Vermette played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons, beginning in 1998–99 with the Quebec Remparts. The next season, he joined the Victoriaville Tigres and posted 71 points in 71 games. Awarded the Mike Bossy Trophy at the season's end as the league's top prospect, he was selected 55th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Upon being drafted, he returned to the QMJHL for two more seasons and recorded a major junior career high 119 points in 2000–01. In his final year of junior, Vermette was limited to just 4 games during the regular season due to an injury suffered at Canada's national junior team evaluation camp. He returned in the playoffs to contribute 26 points in 22 games, leading the Tigres to the 2002 President's Cup as QMJHL champions and an appearance in the 2002 Memorial Cup in Guelph, finishing with a silver medal from the tournament, falling in the finals to the Kootenay Ice.