“He’s answered the bell:” rookie sensation Parascak sustains electric scoring pace ahead of Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
When the Prince George Cougars selected Terik Parascak in the fourth round, 76th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, team brass figured they’d be adding a decent player to the team’s stable of prospects.
They sure didn’t expect he’d become the most prolific rookie in franchise history.
“He had all the signs of being a real good player,” General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb said of Parascak’s first WHL camp. “He was always around the puck, he always put up numbers. We sent him back (to the CSSHL) because we just didn’t think that we could get him enough ice time and I think it really benefited his play. He got a lot stronger, a lot faster, all this stuff that we always talk about when we send guys back to work on their game- and he really did.”
With 27 goals and 35 assists in 42 games, Parascak doesn’t just have a comfortable lead in the WHL rookie scoring race, the 2024 NHL Entry Draft-eligible forward is top 10 in points among all skaters.
His 62 points have well surpassed Prince George’s previous rookie record of 58, set by his teammate and Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt in the 2021-22 season.
And there are still 26 regular season games left on the docket.
“You’re always looking, for kids, can they sustain any of the stuff that they’ve been doing because it is such a long season, but every challenge that he’s been up against, he’s answered the bell,” Lamb added. “His skill set, it all comes between, between his ears, he’s got a high, high hockey IQ. He’s got a real deceptive shot, he can make a play, he goes into traffic. He does a lot of really good things.
The Lethbridge, Alta. product has also carved out a dependable role on special teams, netting six powerplay goals and three shorthanded goals on the Western Conference-leading Cougars.
Parascak has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week four times and WHL Rookie of the Month twice.
In NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, he’s ranked 14th among all North American skaters- and potentially the highest Cougars draft pick since Brett Connolly was selected sixth overall in 2010.
The statement campaign has garnered Parascak an invite to the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton, N.B. on January 24.
“It was a no-brainer,” Lamb said of the invite. “I just thought that, you know, they had to bring him to that game. Everything he’s done, he deserves to be there. He doesn’t need to take a back seat to anybody.”
