Eric Werner
An American defenseman who took his game across the Atlantic, finding championship success in the professional leagues of Europe.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Eric Werner's hockey journey followed a path less traveled, moving from the rinks of the American collegiate system to a professional career defined by European adventures. A solid, dependable defenseman, he played his college hockey at the University of Michigan, contributing to strong Wolverines teams. Rather than grinding in the North American minors, Werner headed overseas, where his game found a home. He became a stalwart on blue lines in Slovenia and, most notably, the United Kingdom. His tenure with the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite Ice Hockey League cemented his legacy abroad; he was a key component of their championship-winning side, lifting a trophy for a historic club with a fervent fanbase. Werner's career exemplifies the globalized nature of modern hockey, where skill and adaptability can forge a fulfilling and successful path far from the sport's traditional epicenters.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Eric was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the EIHL championship with the Nottingham Panthers during the 2012-2013 season.
- Secured a Slovenian Ice Hockey League championship while playing for HDD Jesenice.
- Played NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Did You Know?
He was teammates with notable NHL players like Max Pacioretty and Kevin Porter during his time at the University of Michigan.
After winning in Nottingham, he played several more seasons in the UK for teams like the Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Steelers.
He hails from New Hudson, Michigan.
“You adapt your game to the European ice, to the system, to win.”
