Topic: Antoine Vermette

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 four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). 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 to his pride, 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.

Coming out of major junior, Vermette played the 2002–03 season with Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. In 74 games, Vermette scored 18 goals and 20 assists and earned a place on the AHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, Vermette earned an NHL roster spot with Ottawa out of training camp. In his rookie NHL season, Vermette would appear in 57 games, scoring 14 points.