Eric Brewer (ice hockey)
A steady, minutes-eating defenseman who anchored bluelines for over a decade, reaching the summit with Olympic gold for Canada.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: April 17·Generation X
Biography
Eric Brewer carved out a long and respected NHL career not through highlight-reel offense, but as a dependable, physical shutdown defender. Drafted fifth overall in 1997, the pressure of being a high pick followed him, but he settled into a role as a durable top-four presence. Standing at 6'3", he used his reach and strength to neutralize opposing forwards, logging heavy minutes for teams like the St. Louis Blues, where he served as captain, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. His career pinnacle came in 2002 at the Salt Lake City Olympics, where he was part of the Canadian squad that ended a 50-year gold medal drought, contributing steady play on the biggest stage. While an All-Star game appearance acknowledged his consistency, his true value was measured in the trust of coaches and the tough assignments he handled night after night.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eric was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
- Played over 1,000 games in the NHL as a top-pairing defenseman across six teams.
- Served as team captain for the St. Louis Blues for three seasons.
- Was selected to participate in the NHL All-Star Game in 2003.
Did You Know?
He was part of the trade that sent Chris Pronger from the St. Louis Blues to the Edmonton Oilers.
He scored his first NHL goal against legendary goaltender Patrick Roy.
After retirement, he became involved in the NHL Players' Association's concussion lawsuit against the league.
“My job was simple: be hard to play against, shift after shift.”
