Former NHLer had key role for Canada in Summit Series

J.P. Parise, a member of Canada’s 1972 Summit Series team who played for the Minnesota North Stars and New York Islanders over his NHL career, has died from lung cancer. He was 73.

The Minnesota Wild said that Parise died Wednesday night at his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake. Son and Wild star Zach Parise informed the team of his father’s death.

“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends and the entire hockey community during this difficult time,” the Parise family said Thursday in a statement. “J.P. was a great husband, father and grandpa and will be greatly missed by all of us.”

During his playing career, Parise is most remembered for skating on a line with Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman during the Summit Series and getting ejected in the eighth game, which Canada won on Paul Henderson’s famous goal. Parise played in six of the eight games during the legendary series against the Soviet Union.

“J.P. Parise played an integral role in one of the greatest moments in Canadian hockey history, and his contributions to the game, both in Canada and the United States, will not soon be forgotten,” said Hockey Canada president Tom Renney. “We send our condolences to the Parise family during this difficult time.”

Friend and longtime teammate Tom Reid said he has a photo hanging in his pub of Parise going after the referee in that final game.

“I think that kind of turned things around,” Reid told reporters in St. Paul, Minn. “The referee didn’t call any more penalties against Canada. He was a big part of the success of that.”

Parise had 594 points (238 goals, 356 assists) in 890 NHL games from 1965-79.