Jump to content

Zach Parise Info Thread


NJDF

Recommended Posts

10. Zach Parise

Born: July 28, 1984, Faribault, Minn.

2002-03: University of North Dakota

Pos: C | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 186 | Shoots: L

Central Scouting: No. 9 North American skater

The Parise name conjures up memories of a hard-nosed forward. Zach's dad, J.P. Parise, lasted 13 NHL seasons mainly because of his competitiveness.

Zach is more talented than the old man. He's creative with the puck and has a soft touch around the net. He enters the draft as the top offensive threat coming out of college. He put up a lot of points as a freshman, averaging almost 1.5 per game.

A superb playmaker who had 101 assists in his final high school season, the most obvious trait inherited from his father is determination.

Said one college scout: "He is a star. He can do it all. He can skate. He is strong, and I do not know what his knock is. He can do just about anything. He is a fantastic player. To me, he is magical. I think he is one of the best college players to come down the pipeline in years."

The knock is his size. Parise does not have a thick body yet, and time will tell whether he gets bigger and faster.

"I don't see size as an issue," said a scout. "His dad wasn't big. Zach's a competitor like his dad."

YEAR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like that sound of this...

Parise's offensive game is already NHL-ready, but another year at North Dakota is probably needed to make him a more complete player and to bulk him up closer to 200 pounds.

GO DEVILS!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK... some info

http://nhl.com/intheslot/read/juniors/wjc/...rise010103.html

Following in his father's footsteps

By Alan Adams | Special to NHL.com

January 1, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- The name "Parise" conjures up a historic image for diehard hockey fans in Canada.

They think of Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union and forward J.P. Parise is steaming over the officiating. Referee Josef Kompella is skating toward the penalty box to give the Canuck a penalty and an enraged Parise has his stick cocked in such a way that everyone thinks he is going to cut off the official's head like a knife slides through warm butter.

World Juniors

Related Links

NHL.com coverage

Official site

WJC preview

Impact! WJC issue

Cooler heads prevailed that day and now three decades another Parise - J.P.'s son Zach -- is making a name for himself, albeit for different reasons, at the World Junior Championship.

Zach Parise is the leading scorer on the United States junior team, with three goals and five points in four games, and he's shown scouts and fans why he is one of the top prospects in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

He's not a chip off the old block.

J.P. Parise lasted 13 NHL seasons mainly with the Minnesota North Stars and the New York Islanders because of his brawn. His son is almost the exact opposite. He's creative with the puck and he has a soft touch around the net.

When Parise joined the U.S. juniors, he was the leading scorer in the U.S. college ranks, playing for the University of North Dakota. The freshman lost that perch, but remains No.1 in the nation for his points per game average.

The Americans need his scoring touch now more than ever as the medal round of the World Junior Championship opens Thursday on two fronts. The United States plays the Czech Republic before Slovakia faces Finland.

Parise has definitey raised a few eyebrows with his skill and determination on the ice.

"He is not the biggest guy on the ice, but he knows where to be and how to play the game," says linemate Dustin Brown.

Team USA coach Lou Vairo says the younger Parise reminds him of Neal Broten, who is one of the most prolific American scorers in NHL history.

"He's just younger," joked Vairo.

Zach Parise's first memory of hockey was going to the rink with his dad for the 1991 Stanley Cup Final between the Minnesota North Stars and the Pittsburgh Penguins. His father used to take Zack to practice and when the session was over, he'd lace up his son's skates and they'd spend an hour on the ice by themselves.

"He introduced me to hockey but this is something I really want to do," Zach says about becoming an elite player.

Parise honed his skills at one of the top prep schools in the United States, Shattuck-St. Mary's in St. Mary's Minnesota, and he had 174 points in his senior year, including 101 assists The Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League tried to get him to take the major junior route to the NHL, but Parise opted to go to college "so I would have an education if things didn't work out."

Zach showed he was a clutch player last April at the 2002 Under-18 world championship tournament in Slovakia. The United States played Russia in the last game of the round-robin event and had to beat the Russians by two goals to win the championship.

The score was 2-1 with a minute remaining and the Americans already had the silver medal wrapped up. Another goal meant gold and if the Russians tied it, the Americans would have settled for bronze. Coach Mark Saur huddled the players at his bench, presented the scenarios and gave them the choice whether to pull the goalie to go for gold.

With the netminder on the bench for an extra attacker, Parise scored for a 3-1 win and the gold medal, which marked the first time since 1933 that the Americans won gold in a world A Pool tournament other than their 1960 and 1980 Olympic titles.

"That was a risk we wanted to take and we didn't go there to win a silver medal," says Zach Parise. "I was thrilled when he said my name to go out there and I don't really know where the shot went but it found the back of the net."

Parise knows that hockey is in his genes and he says with pride that his father still plays a big role in his development.

"When I'm having a tough time at college, I give him a call. I know he'll talk me through it. When I hit roadblocks, he's always there to help."

If the Americans get past the Czechs, their semifinal opponent would be Canada, and playing the host nation in a big game on their home soil is second on the list of priorities behind winning the gold medal.

"It would be awesome to play in this rink, have it packed to the rafters with screaming fans," said Zach.

As for his father's place in Canadian hockey history, Zach has seen the near stick swinging incident on videotape.

"He had to do what he had to do at the time and whether it was right or wrong, he did it," says Zach. "But that's the big tie to the Parise name up here."

Kompella is being inducted in the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame in April, and J.P. Parise has been invited by the IIHF to attend the ceremony.

Zach, meanwhile, knows his family name will always be tied to his father's actions, at least in Canada.

But he says he's his own man and responsible for his actions.

"I haven't exactly been sucking up to the (referees at the world junior) but I guess I should,'' Zach said.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://wcha.ocsn.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-.../012203aaa.html

Super-Frosh Zach Parise Leads Sioux To Top Of WCHA

Parise paves the way for North Dakota's lead in the title chase.

Printer-Friendly Format

E-mail this article

Parise leads the country with 2.14 points per game.

Ice Hockey Home

HEADLINES

Eaves Officially Adds Five To 2003-04 Recruiting Class

NHL Entry Draft Set for June 21-22 in Nashville

2003-04 WCHA Men's Composite Schedule Released

RELATED LINKS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Devils move up, take C Parise with 17th pick

June 21, 2003

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (TICKER) -- Less than two weeks after winning another Stanley Cup, the New Jersey Devils traded up Saturday and snatched center Zach Parise with the 17th pick in the NHL draft.

New Jersey already had the 22nd pick after exercising their option to swap selections with the St. Louis Blues. But general manager Lou Lamoriello sent that pick to the Edmonton Oilers along with a second-round selection for the right to take Parise.

The son of former NHLer J.P. Parise, Zach Parise was ranked ninth among North American skaters by the league's Central Scouting Bureau.

ADVERTISEMENT

The only freshman nominated for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player, he recorded three hat tricks, including one in his NCAA debut at North Dakota. Parise finished the season with 25 goals and 32 assists in 34 games. He also led the U.S. team in scoring at the World Junior Championships with four goals and four assists in seven contests.

At 5-11 and 186 pounds, Parise lacks size. But so did his father, who made up for it with a tireless work ethic. And some scouts believe the younger Parise is one of the best prospects to come out of college in years.

Updated on Saturday, Jun 21, 2003 4:06 pm EDT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GREAT review on Parise (sportsline):

Zach Parise North Dakota (WCHA) 5-11 186 07/28/1984 34 25 32 57 32

Scored 26 goals with 35 assists in 39 games for North Dakota this past season ... a strong skater with good acceleration and agility ... a wide-based skater who is very well-balanced and hard to knock off the puck ... possesses a very quick wrist shot with an effective release while in full flight ... a talented passer and creative playmaker ... has excellent puck handling skills and works well in heavy traffic ... plays with confidence and excels in pressure situations ... a face-off specialist ... a tenacious two-way player who is very aware of his defensive responsibilities ... a very well conditioned athlete who plays at a high level of intensity and grit ... a relentless forechecker who plays fearlessly in the corners and in front of the net ... will sacrifice himself to block shots and to make the play ... an unselfish team player who displays strong leadership qualities ... plays with determination and has the ability to change the momentum of the game.  

GO DEVILS!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hradek's Review of Parise:

17. New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise, C. And the Devils win again! GM Lou Lamoriello traded up to take Parise, who might just be a better version of Scott Gomez. Parise, the son of former NHLer J.P. Parise, impressed scouts at the World Junior Championships in Halifax. During his freshman season at North Dakota, Parise piled up 25 goals and 57 points in 34 games, impressive numbers for a first-year college player. At 5-11, 186, he's not a monster, but you don't have to be in New Jersey (see also: Brian Gionta).

GO DEVILS!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.