Éric Messier (born October 29, 1973 in Drummondville, Quebec) is a retired defenceman in the National Hockey League. He played in the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers. He played junior hockey in Quebec for the Sherbrooke Faucons. When he was not drafted by an NHL team, he entered the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres. The next year he was discovered by the Colorado Avalanche while playing roller hockey in Montreal. He played the entire 1995-96 season with the Cornwall Aces of the American Hockey League but made the junp to the Avalanche the following season,