Zach Parise is an American professional ice hockey player who has had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on July 28, 1984, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in a family of hockey players. His father, J.P. Parise, played in the NHL for 14 seasons, and his brother, Jordan Parise, was a goaltender for the University of North Dakota.
Parise began his hockey career playing for the Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, where he was a standout player. He then went on to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota, where he was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Year in 2003.
In 2003, Parise was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round, 17th overall, of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2005 and quickly established himself as a top player for the Devils. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in his first season and went on to score 31 goals and 31 assists in his second season.
Parise continued to excel for the Devils over the next several seasons, becoming one of the team's top scorers and leaders. He was named an NHL All-Star in 2009 and helped lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.
In 2012, Parise became a free agent and signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Minnesota Wild, his hometown team. He immediately became the face of the franchise and helped lead the Wild to the playoffs in his first season with the team. He was named team captain in 2013 and continued to be a top scorer and leader for the Wild over the next several seasons.
In 2016, Parise suffered a back injury that forced him to miss the playoffs and most of the following season. He returned to the ice in 2018 but struggled to regain his form, scoring just 15 goals in 42 games.
Despite his injury and struggles, Parise remained a respected and beloved player in the NHL. He was known for his hard work, determination, and leadership both on and off the ice. He was also a two-time Olympian, representing the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
As of 2022, Parise is still an active player in the NHL, playing for the New York Islanders. He has scored over 400 goals and 400 assists in his career and is considered one of the best American-born players in NHL history.
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