Interview with Zach Parise
McKeen’s correspondent Mike Simon recently caught up with North Dakota and Team USA star Zach Parise.
McKeen’s: What did you find different in the international style at the World Juniors compared to that of the NCAA?
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Zach Parise: The international style is more skilled. The defensemen can handle the puck just as well as the forwards can. Also the referees call a tighter game.
McKeen’s: How would you rate your performance in Finland?
Zach Parise: I was happy with the way I played throughout the tournament. I had great linemates and we meshed really well with each other in the short period of time and we found the back of the net.
McKeen’s: Did you find the wider rinks helped or hurt your game?
Zach Parise: I think it helped my game. It opened things up a little bit and we could really use our speed.
McKeen’s: How would you compare the level of play in the NCAA to that of the World Juniors?
Zach Parise: The players in the NCAA are obviously older and stronger but there isn't the skill depth that was at the world juniors. The NCAA is starting to be a lot of clutch-and-grab type hockey and the international style is puck movement and possession.
McKeen’s: You seem stronger on the puck this year, have you made an extra effort to improve your overall strength and do you think it has affected your quickness?
Zach Parise: I changed my type of workouts over the summer and did a lot of plyometrics and sprinting and things to improve my explosiveness. My legs have gotten stronger since last year and I am starting to fill out a little.
McKeen’s: Are there areas of your game that you feel need improvement?
Zach Parise: I'd like to work on every aspect of my game in particular my skating. I don’t think you can ever be a good enough skater so I want to become more powerful.
McKeen’s: Who do you consider the unsung hero of the USA team and why?
Zach Parise: David Booth. You can count on him every day to give all he has. He is a great locker room guy and really reliable. He shows up every shift and plays injured and lays it all on the line for the team.
McKeen’s: Which non-American player impressed you the most at the tournament and why?
Zach Parise: Nigel Dawes. I only saw him when we played against him but he was a scoring threat it seemed whenever he was on the ice.
McKeen’s: What was it like facing off against Sidney Crosby, who you became good friends with at Shattuck St. Mary's?
Zach Parise: It was just like facing off against anyone else. Obviously he is an unbelievable player and he is going to go a long way but for me it was just a regular face off.
McKeen’s: What was it like for yourself leading up to the gold medal game, knowing the Canadians where a big strong hungry team not wanting to settle for silver for the third year in a row?
Zach Parise: We wanted the gold more than they did. For us, it was just about winning the gold though. It did not matter who we played in the final, although a Canada-US matchup was the ideal for us. We were on a mission from day 1 and we were determined to not come up short again.
McKeen’s: What was the feeling among the team when you were down 3-1, and who stepped up to boost the team’s moral?
Zach Parise: Coach Eaves definitely boosted the moral. He reminded us that Canada had not seen our best hockey and made us believe we were still in the game. A lot of players said this was the last time some of us were going to be able to put on the jersey and we wouldn't feel good about ourselves if we did not give it all we had.
McKeen’s: The feeling at the final buzzer, knowing Team USA had come back to defeat Team Canada and capture the gold for the first time?
Zach Parise: It is hard to describe. There were so many things going through my head at that time. I remember I was out of breath about 2 minutes into the celebration because I was yelling so much. But it was just a feeling of satisfaction. It was one of those games that you dream about playing, but are relieved when it is over.
McKeen’s: Besides winning gold, what is your most memorable moment from the 2004 World Juniors?
Zach Parise: Seeing the team in the locker room after we beat Russia. We were obviously very excited, but it was quiet. The team was beat up, people had ice bags all over. I think we blocked 25 shots that game. But everyone had the look of satisfaction, but we knew we had a long ways to go. I think that game made us realize we could win that tournament.
McKeen’s: What was the first thing you did when you got back home from Finland?
Zach Parise: Went to practice with our team at North Dakota.
McKeen’s: Has the gold medal made you hungrier to win a National Championship with North Dakota, and do you feel you have the right mix of players to take a run at the title?
Zach Parise: I think we have the depth to go a long way. We have goal scorers and grinders and we have the will to win. We have a long ways to go, but we feel good with how we are playing right now. Guys are willing to pay the price to win, but there are areas that we have to work on like everyone else.