Eric Brewer, a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman, played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1998 to 2015. Born on April 17, 1979, Brewer's journey began in Ashcroft, British Columbia, where he honed his skills in the Ashcroft Minor Hockey program.
Brewer's career highlights include a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics with Team Canada. He also secured gold medals at the 2003, 2004, and 2007 World Championships, as well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Before making his mark in the NHL, Brewer played for the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Prince George Cougars, earning the team's Rookie of the Year award in his first season. He was drafted fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Brewer's NHL career saw him play for six teams: the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He reached the 1,000-game milestone, finishing with 1,009 regular-season games and 34 playoff games. His final stats included 80 goals, 208 assists, and 288 points.
Brewer's time with the Edmonton Oilers, though relatively short, is a notable part of his career. He was traded to the Oilers in 2000 and played two seasons with the team. After the 2004-05 NHL lockout, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
During his NHL career, Brewer also played for the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). He captained the St. Louis Blues for two years and was considered one of the NHL's top two-way defensemen during his peak years with the Blues and Lightning.
Internationally, Brewer first represented Canada at the 1998 IIHF World Junior Championship, serving as an alternate captain. He also played in five IIHF World Championships. His Olympic debut at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics saw him capture gold with Team Canada, ending a 50-year Olympic gold medal drought for the country's men's ice hockey team. During that tournament, he played in six matches and scored two goals.
In February 2011, Brewer was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Brewer recorded a career-high nine goals. On June 24, 2011, he signed a four-year, $15.4 million contract extension with the Lightning. On November 28, 2014, the Lightning traded Brewer to the Anaheim Ducks.
Post-retirement, Brewer purchased a stake in the Prince George Cougars in 2014 and remains one of the team's owners. He was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 with his British Columbian teammates after their 2002 Olympic win. In 2020, he was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.
