Forward Zach Parise, a two-time U.S. National Junior Team member and a 2005 AHL All-Star, will join the 2005 U.S. Men’s National Team that is currently competing in the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship in Austria.
Parise, a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, recently completed the 2004-05 season with the Devils’ top American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats. In his professional debut, Parise finished second on the team in scoring with 58 points (18g, 40a) in 73 games.
Prior to joining the River Rats, Parise played two seasons of NCAA Division I college hockey at the University of North Dakota (2002-04), while also representing the United States at both the 2003 and 2004 IIHF World Junior Championships.
After leading the U.S. National Junior Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship with four goals and four assists, Parise was named the tournament MVP in 2004 with 11 points (5-6) as Team USA won its first-ever gold medal in the event. In addition, he joined the U.S. National Under-18 Team for the 2002 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, where he helped the United States to the first gold medal by any U.S. team in an A-Pool IIHF World Championship since 1933.
Parise will join the U.S. Men’s National Team in Austria on Thursday (May 5).
