Colton Parayko answered the call for Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
The St. Albert minor hockey product was added to Canada’s roster for the tournament in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany after the St. Louis Blues were eliminated in the National Hockey League playoffs.
“It’s definitely an exciting time for me and whenever you get to wear the maple leaf it’s obviously an honour,” Parayko told Brad Karp on the Big Breakfast show on Country 93.3 in Fort McMurray before leaving Wednesday for worlds.
“That said, it feels good but the same time I kind of wish I was still playing here in St. Louis with my team but if I have the opportunity to go and put on the maple leaf and head overseas it’s always a great chance to develop a little bit and learn some new things and improve your game so I’m really looking forward to it and it’s going to be a great opportunity.”
The six-foot-six and 226-pound defenceman played his first game in Thursday’s 3-2 win over France in Paris.
Canada, winner of the last two worlds, is 4-0 in group B entering today’s contest against Switzerland.
Parayko, who celebrated his 24th birthday Friday, completed his second NHL season with the Blues as the team’s eighth-leading scorer and third among defencemen with 35 points, including 31 assists. Parayko was plus-seven in 81 games this season. He also tied for 11th among NHL defencemen in shots on goal with 188.
The Paul Kane High School alumnus added two goals and three assists in 11 postseason games as the Blues were knocked out of the second playoff round by the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
The last thing on Parayko’s mind after the game was the invite to worlds.
“It’s weird. It’s one of those things I would not even think about and you get knocked out and you’re pretty bummed I guess you could say and the next thing you know you walk on the plane and the general manager kind of calls over to you and asks if you want to head over to France for the world championship. It’s kind of a quick turnaround. It’s one of those things where you’re still kind of caught up in getting knocked out but the same time you’ve kind of got to look forward and kind of stick with what’s on the table and do the best you can,” Parayko said. “I’m excited to be part of the team. I think I’m more excited to go and meet a bunch of new players. I’m not familiar with a whole bunch of players in the league.”
Parayko has competed internationally previously with Team Canada West at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge as a member of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The 2016 NHL All-Rookie Team selection also played for U23 Team North America at last year’s World Cup of Hockey and collected three assists in three games.
The third-round (86th overall) pick of the Blues in the 2012 NHL entry draft finished eighth in Calder Trophy voting for the NHL’s rookie of the year as the second-highest vote getter among defencemen.
Parayko led all rookie skaters with a plus-28 rating, fifth-best in the NHL and a franchise rookie record, and ranked second among rookie defencemen in goals (nine), assists (24) and points (33) in 79 games.
The former bantam AAA Sabre, midget 15 Flyer and midget AA Crusader played two AJHL seasons with the Oil Barons before joining the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.
The former captain of the Nanooks signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Blues after his third season at Alaska-Fairbanks on March 10, 2015 and is a restricted free agent.
