Minnesota Hockey established the Ted Brill Award with great respect and fond memories of one of our most influential leaders. It is presented annually to an individual who has at least ten years of service to any of the various player development programs (STP, HEP, High Performance/Selects, etc.). 

For many involved in the CCM High Performance programs, coaching is a lifestyle. While John Perry’s first leadership role in hockey was coaching mites for Armstrong in the early 1990’s, he made an extraordinary impact as a leader off the ice, guiding the HP 15 program for over two decades as well as serving in numerous roles for Minnesota Hockey.

John spent four years coaching his son Stephen in the Armstrong Youth Hockey Association, first at mites and then squirts, before joining the association’s board. He served in several roles for Armstrong including Squirt coordinator, secretary, district 3 representative and president.

In 1999, John joined the District 3 board as league president and took his first role with the High Performance programs, formerly called the Select and Advanced programs, as the boys 15 assistant director. He spent the next ten years leading District 3, including two terms as District 3 director for Minnesota Hockey.

After his time in District 3, John continued his service with Minnesota Hockey for the next eleven years as a vice president, first as the maroon coordinator and then as the vice president of hockey operations. John served on numerous committees including as chair of the committee that studied and recommended the A/AA classification change, was a co-chair for the girls’ league and competition committees and was a member of the steering committee that determined Minnesota Hockey’s priorities for new hockey programs. 

From 1999-2006, John served as the boys 15 assistant director for Minnesota Hockey’s player development and identification process, before taking over as director for Gary Gibbons in 2007. John led the boys 15 program through 2019 and oversaw the girls 15 program as well from 2011-2017. During his time as director, over 6,000 players competed in HP camps and festivals including hundreds of future NCAA, NHL and international stars.

“John Perry provided the solid organizational skills and professional character to help make the HP 15's the program that it is today,” said Don Krause, who served as the Boys 15 head coach and evaluator during most of John’s tenure. “John had the unique quality of anticipating my concerns during time of stress and handling them before I even had the opportunity to get worried. He is a man of true character. We are fortunate to have had his guidance for so many years.”

John also played an active role in the development of Minnesota Hockey’s Fall Tier I Leagues, serving on the Tier I committee and spending four years as the director of the Boys Tier I 15 league.

Highly respected for his organization, leadership and positive energy, John received the Minnesota Hockey Presidents Award in 2012, the District 3 Director Award in 2016 and was honored by the Minnesota High School Coaches Association with the Oscar Almquist Award in 2020, for his impact on high school hockey by advancing opportunities for players and coaches.

Minnesota Hockey would like to thank John for his tremendous contributions and dedication to the players in Minnesota!