[caption id="attachment_3117" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Gord Perrin (A. Snucins)"][/caption] When the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team take to the court to start the 2010-11 Canada West season, they will do it without their most decorated player. After spending the last three seasons honing his skills at TRU,  outside hitter Gord Perrin  has elected to leave school to train full time with Canada’s National “A” men’s team.   [caption id="attachment_3118" align="alignnone" width="167" caption="Perrin Delivers vs Trinity 2009 (A. Snucins)"][/caption] “It’s a bitter sweet feeling leaving TRU,” said Perrin from Gatineau Quebec which is the site of the National Team training headquarters.  “I have made some great friends and played with some outstanding players.” But none as outstanding as Perrin.  Coming to the WolfPack from Prince Charles Secondary (Creston, BC) in 2008, he immediately made an impact.  Coach Pat Hennelly says it’s no coincidence that Perrin’s arrival spurred on his team’s rise up the CIS ladder.   “He was a Canada West Rookie of the year and our first All-Canadian (2009-10), our first member of the Junior National Team. He set a bunch of bench marks for the WolfPack Program.  Gord has meant a lot to our program. He will be a hard guy to replace.  To date, he’s been the best player I have ever coached.”   Hennelly remembers Perrin’s arrival at TRU.  “Our first year, we went on a trip to Denmark and Belgium.  It took Gord a little while to acclimatize to what it’s like to be part of a team and have guys who were just as physical as him.  He was used to being the best player. But that year, he had to play a lesser role to Robin Schoebel and Martin Korsbak.”   Perrin didn’t start right away. He was on the bench until veteran Troy Jaggard hurt his back in Canada West play in November 2008. From then on, the 6’6” Creston, BC native never looked back.  “He never left the floor after that,” Hennelly explains. “His skill development has improved dramatically every year.  Gord had all the skills, it was just a matter of working at them and getting used to the speed of the game.”   [caption id="attachment_3121" align="alignnone" width="166" caption="2008-09"][/caption] Hennelly really noticed a change in Perrin in the last year and a half.  “He really hit the weight room and became a leader both on and off the court.”   Perrin agrees that it’s the last couple of years which have made the difference.  “My experience at TRU has helped me mature as a volleyball player.  It taught me to hold myself and control my emotions on and off the court.”   [caption id="attachment_3122" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Perrin receives Volleyball BC Ray Lepp Award 2009"][/caption] Hennelly thinks Perrin has left a legacy not only at TRU but with BC Volleyball. “Kids here at this Team BC camp talk about how good Gord is when they go to watch him,” he explains.  Hennelly is the coach of the BC U-17 boys team. “Gord has left an impression with players from all over the province, especially other kids from small towns in BC.”   The WolfPack coach says Perrin is someone you can’t instantly replace. “It definitely won’t happen in one year and maybe not until five years.”   [caption id="attachment_3123" align="alignnone" width="167" caption="Perrin serves at 2009 CIS Nationals vs Dalhousie"][/caption] For Hennelly: the big question is who will take Perrin’s spot in the line up.  Obviously, the pressure to produce offense will key on second year left side Kevin Tillie (Cagnes Sur Mer, France), the 2009-10 CIS Rookie of the Year.  “I think opposition will be keying on Kevin this year for sure.  The good thing is that the two times that Kevin had his best matches last season were when Gord was either out of the line up or not playing his best. Gord was effective from both the back and the front row, with him gone we have lost 40 per cent of our offense.  We’ll be looking for some young guys to pick up the slack.”  Perrin will never forget the WolfPack and his experience here.  “ I am grateful for being a member of the WolfPack. Pat has done a great job of building the program from the ground up.  To be able to be apart of what he has done at the school was an amazing experience. I know the program will continue to grow and be one of the strongest in the nation.  I wish them nothing but success in the future.” [caption id="attachment_3124" align="alignnone" width="167" caption="Gord Perrin 2009-10"][/caption]  Hennelly says the sky is the limit for his now former player.  “He has the potential of being not only a great national team player but an international player as well. We wish him all the best and are happy we got three great years out of Gord Perrin.   SIDE OUTS:  Perrin leaves as the WolfPack career leader in kills (961), kills per game (3.84) attack attempts (2227) and points (1099).   He established single season records last year for kills (443), kills per game (4.46) attack attempts (1054), points (448.5) and points per game (5.04).