Zach Parise

Zach Parise (born Zachary Justin Parise on July 28, 1984) is an American professional ice hockey left winger of French-Canadian origin and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL).

He has also played for the New Jersey Devils, where he served as team captain.

Zach's father, J.P. Parise was a professional ice hockey player who played for Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series, and his brother Jordan Parise is a professional hockey goaltender.

Zach played midget AAA hockey for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota, before spending two seasons at the University of North Dakota, where he was twice nominated for the Hobey Baker Award which is given to the top college ice hockey player in America.

He was drafted by the Devils 17th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and turned pro after his sophomore season, spending one year playing for the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Zach joined the Devils for the 2005–06 season. His best NHL season was in 2008–09 when he was the league's third leading goal scorer (45) behind Jeff Carter with 46 and league leader Alexander Ovechkin with 56, while ranking fifth among all NHL players in points with 94.

Internationally, Zach has represented the United States at several different events. He helped the Americans win a gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships, where he was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Best Forward and earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team.

Zach was an alternate captain for the American team at the 2010 Winter Olympics and scored the tying goal late in the gold medal game against Canada to send it to overtime.

Zach and his teammates won a silver medal. After the tournament, he was named to the Tournament All-Star Team.

International Play
Even though Zach's father J. P. played internationally for Canada during his hockey career, Zach and his brother Jordan are American citizens.

Zach's international career started at the Under-18 level, where he played for the United States during the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships.

He finished the tournament 14th overall in scoring with 7 goals and 3 assists in 8 games and the United States won the gold medal.

Zach represented the United States at the Under-20 level, playing at the 2003 World Junior Championships.

Team USA finished in fourth place and he scored 4 goals and added 4 assists to finish 8th in tournament scoring.

The following year at the 2004 World Junior Championships, Zach led the Americans to their first ever gold medal at the tournament.

He scored 5 goals and added 6 assists and was awarded the Tournament MVP, Best Forward and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team.

In 2005 and 2007, Zach played for the United States at the World Hockey Championships although he did not suit up for the full slate of games in either event.

In 2008, he served as an alternate captain for the American team at the World Championships.

Zach was named Team USA's Player of the Game against Germany during this tournament and he was also selected as one of the team's Top Three Players at the end of the tournament by the coaching staff.

On January 1, 2010, Zach was named to the 2010 Men's Olympic Hockey Team and was later named as one of the team's alternate captains. He scored both of Team USA's goals in 2–0 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.

In the final against Canada, Zach scored a game-tying goal with 24 seconds left in the 3rd period to send the game into overtime although he and his teammates had to settle for the silver medal after a Sidney Crosby goal during overtime.

For the tournament, Zach finished third in the tournament in scoring, and he was named to the Olympic All-Star team with countrymen Ryan Miller and Brian Rafalski.

Personal Life
Zach resides in Orono, Minnesota with his wife and college sweetheart Alisha Woods. His parents J.P. and Donna Parise reside in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

J.P. is a Franco-Ontarian from Smooth Rock Falls in Northern Ontario. Zach was born during J.P.'s tenure as an assistant coach for the Minnesota North Stars.

Zach is sponsored by Easton Hockey. He gives his time to New Jersey's public library system, and serves as a Library Champion, a program which promotes the importance of reading to children.