Zach Parise

Zach Parise is a professional ice hockey player and alternate captain of the NHL's New Jersey Devils. With 45 goals in his breakout 2008–09 season, Parise was the league's third leading scorer behind Jeff Carter (with 46) and league leader Alexander Ovechkin (56). His 94 goals last season earned him a fifth-place ranking in points among all NHL players.

According to a StarTribune.com article titled "Parise's proud of his blue-collar bloodline," Zach Parise has the scoring skills his father never had, but they both share a hard-nosed work ethic. In the article, Parise says, "That's how I get my scoring chances, by working. I don't score highlight reel goals. They come from work, from getting into the corners, getting a little dirty. That's something [my dad] and I share. He scored his goals, and I score mine, the old-fashioned way."

Some Personal Info:

• Father Jean-Paul played 14 NHL seasons with Boston, Toronto, Minnesota, NY Islanders, and Cleveland, and represented Canada at 1972 Summit Series vs. U.S.S.R
• Lists 24 as his favorite TV show and The Count of Monte Cristo as his favorite movie
• Older brother Jordan is now a goaltender for the AHL’s Lowell Devils
• Played three seasons of varsity hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s; alumni list includes Pittsburgh’s S. Crosby, actor Marlon Brando, sportscaster Brent Musberger, and Hall of Fame college football coach Bud Wilkinson
• Lists golf and cribbage among his hobbies
• Worked as a golf caddy while in high school.

(Information courtesy Wikipedia, the New Jersey Devils team website, NHL.com, and StarTribune.com.)

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