Zach Parise
A relentless American winger whose heart and clutch scoring made him the soul of every team he captained, from New Jersey to the Olympic stage.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: July 28·Millennials
Biography
Zach Parise’s hockey identity was forged from a blend of blue-collar grit and a scorer’s touch. The son of former NHL player J.P. Parise, he carved his own path, becoming the offensive engine for the New Jersey Devils after being drafted in 2003. His game was never about flash; it was about relentless pursuit, digging pucks out of corners and planting himself in front of the net. This work ethic made him a natural leader, and he wore the 'C' for the Devils, steering them on an unexpected run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Beyond the NHL, his legacy is cemented in international play, most notably by scoring the dramatic last-second tying goal against Canada in the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics—a moment that etched him into American sports lore. After a long tenure with the Minnesota Wild and final seasons elsewhere, his retirement closed the book on a career defined by consistent effort and big-game moments.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Zach was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zach Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Zach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the game-tying goal with 24 seconds left in regulation for Team USA in the 2010 Olympic gold medal game against Canada.
- Served as captain of the New Jersey Devils, leading the team to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.
- Recorded 75 or more points in three separate NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
- Represented the United States in three Olympic Games (2006, 2010, 2014).
Did You Know?
His father, J.P. Parise, also played in the NHL and for Team USA, including in the famed 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.
He and teammate Ryan Suter signed identical 13-year, $98 million contracts with the Minnesota Wild on the same day in 2012, a landmark moment in free agency.
He played his final NHL season with the New York Islanders, a team his father also played for.
“You play the game to win a championship. That’s the only thing you play for.”
