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J.P. Parise, Former North Star, Dies At 73

By Dustin Nelson

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J.P. Parise, former North Star and father of the Minnesota Wild’s Zach Parise, passed away from lung cancer on Wednesday.

The Wild released this statement on J.P. Parise today:

"After a brave battle with lung cancer, J.P. Parise passed away peacefully at home Wednesday night with his family by his side. We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends and the entire hockey community during this difficult time. J.P. was a great husband, father and grandpa and will be greatly missed by all of us.Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time."

It’s tough to underestimate how much this has rippled through the hockey community. Parise was a well-liked figure as a player, as a hockey personality, and as a person. He spent time after his playing career as coach and then administrator at Shattuck-St. Mary’s during a time that saw Zach Parise, Jonathan Toews, and Sidney Crosby go through their program. Everyone in the hockey world seems to have funny stories about Parise and what a good friend he was to many. Many of the memories being passed around don’t start with the Summit Series game or his big goal for the Islanders or his time with the Minnesota North Stars, but start with him as a friend and storyteller.

Parise was by all accounts a good person, a pleasure to watch, and his relationship with Zach was very visible for Wild fans (especially after a few heartbreaking pieces by Michael Russo in recent onths).

I’m not able to do J.P Parise justice. I didn’t see him play or know him. I’m just going to share the nice words I keep seeing around the internet that have made it clear what kind of person he was outside of his importance to hockey — to hockey fans, players, students, coaches, and, it would seem, just about anyone he came into contact with.

Our condolences to the Parise family.

Also:
Michael Russo’s piece today.
Audio from Ryan Suter, Jonathan Toews, and Mike Yeo.
Piece by Adam Proteau at Hockey News about the Parise family.
A tribute from Lighthouse Hockey.

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