By Claire Noack

Growing up in the “state of hockey” as the son of hockey legend J.P. Parisé, Zach Parise was born with hockey in his blood. After lacing up ice skates at the age of two and practicing on the pond in his backyard, he went on to play at Shattuck-St. Mary’s high school, known for producing copious NHL stars, and the University of North Dakota before skating onto the professional rink with the Albany River Rats. Parise represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and played for the New Jersey Devils for seven years before returning home to the Minnesota Wild in 2012. With a humble demeanor and the confidence of a seasoned NHL pro, it’s easy to see how the Twin Cities native became Minnesota’s favorite hockey player.

What were your first experiences playing hockey like?

We spent a lot of time skating outdoors in the place we used to live. Growing up, we had a community pond that my parents would shovel off, and we would skate there all winter.

Your dad, J.P. Parisé, was a hockey icon, playing for the Minnesota North Stars among other teams. What is the biggest lesson you have learned from him on or off the ice?

He taught me everything I know about hockey and the game. It helped me a lot learning from him since he made it to the NHL and I was trying to get there. Learning things from him and absorbing what he was teaching me, I think I had a little bit of a leg up.

Looking back, some of the things he would tell us (Parise and older brother Jordan), it took about 30 years to realize, “Oh yeah, what he’s saying makes sense.” A lot of it wasn’t hockey related; it was more so treating people the right way. He told us countless times, “Don’t be a bully,” and I think that’s probably one of the things that stuck with both me and my brother the most.

You have won numerous awards, been named captain for multiple teams and even won a silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

I would say the silver medal and going to the Stanley Cup Finals (2012) are two of the most exciting experiences I’ve had playing hockey. The Olympics was incredible. Even in Russia (2014 Olympic Games), we didn’t medal, but I think everything about the Olympics is amazing. To get a medal there (in Vancouver) and almost win gold, it was awesome. In the NHL, going to the cup finals is the ultimate goal, and being that close was a really good hockey experience.

How did it feel to return to Minnesota and play for your home state team?

It has been great; we’ve really enjoyed it. Growing up here, you have a lot of friends and family around. I thought it would be a good opportunity to come back here, and it would be a lot of fun. It has been good from a hockey standpoint, seeing the way our team has grown over the past five years and where we were compared to where we are now.

What is the best thing about playing in the Xcel Energy Center?

We have an awesome fan base. There aren’t a lot of arenas where you get a constant sellout every game. We’re pretty spoiled with that. We have loyal fans that when they see you out in public are respectful, and they’re excited about the team and about hockey. As a player, it’s a neat feeling when people come up to you and tell you how excited they are. You can tell the fans really care about the team. It’s a good atmosphere to be in; it’s a lot of fun.

What do you like most about living in the Twin Cities?

People are friendly here. Whether it was going to college and coming back or playing somewhere else and coming back, it’s such a great culture and a great place to raise a family.
I don’t mind the weather; some people complain about it, but I enjoy the seasons. There’s a lot to like about the area.

Do you have any favorite restaurants or places to visit in the Twin Cities?
I think my favorite restaurant is Sushi Fix over in Wayzata. It’s unbelievable. When people come to town, I like Burch Steak in Minneapolis. I also like the lakes and being outdoors.

You now have a family with two children. Do you think hockey is in their futures?

I’m not sure. Our daughter already quit. She started skating and kind of became uninterested in it, but our son loves it. He started skating a year ago, and all of the sudden he’s talking about it a lot and wants to skate all the time. He loves it, so it’s a lot of fun to watch him play.

How do you like to spend your time in the off-season when you can be with your family more often?

We go out on the lake a lot. Our kids are almost four, but they like being on the boat. They are doing so much stuff right now. I mean they’re in tennis, swimming, skating, gymnastics, dance. It’s like every day is something different, so it’s always go, go, go. We do a lot with them.

Who is the teammate or coach that has made you grow the most as a player?

I’ve had the experience of playing for some awesome coaches: Jacques Lemaire, Peter DeBoer, even playing under Lou Lamoriello in New Jersey—I learned a lot from him. Players-wise, I came into the league with a pretty veteran and experienced team, playing with Martin Brodeur for a long time, and playing with Scott Gomez, Jay Pandolfo and Jamie Langenbrunner. I always had some good players for me to learn from and learn how to carry yourself as a professional and how to play the game the right way. I think I’ve kind of been spoiled being able to play for some great coaches and also play with players that are going to be Hall of Famers.