It has been a week that Terik Parascak will never forget.
It started last Friday (June 28) in Las Vegas at the 2024 NHL Draft when Parascak was selected in the first round, 17th overall, by the Washington Capitals.
“I completely blacked out.”
Terik Parascak to @JeffMarek about his reaction to being drafted to the Capitals at the #NHLDraft. pic.twitter.com/jDAEnYAcqS
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 29, 2024
Just days later, he was across the continent in Washington, D.C., for the Capitals development camp – where he was joined by his now-former Cougar teammates Zac Funk and Hudson Thornton who were both signed by the organization as 20-year-olds last season.
Then, one week after being drafted, he signed his entry level contract with the Caps.
In a local media availability hosted by the Cougars, Parascak told My PG Now that this week “has to be right up there, if not the best [week of my life].”
“There is so much going on and so much excitement, I am trying to take as much as I can in.
All my dreams pretty much came true in a week.”
“The whole experience has been a complete whirlwind. It is all a blur to be honest,” he said. “I could not be more grateful for the whole draft experience and having my family there, and then coming to D.C.”
Thinking back to the draft, he said “I really didn’t know where I was going to fall. I tried to not set my expectations too high or too low… when I heard my name I was definitely surprised.”
Now with a wardrobe full of Washington Capitals merchandise, Parascak said “This organization won a cup recently, they are a winning organization and that is great to be a part of. That is what you want.”
Having two friends and Cougar teammates at the camp with him made the experience a little bit sweeter.
“I looked up to those guys (Thornton and Funk) a lot this year. Having them around and being able to support each other through the whole process, they have been a huge help to me,” he said.
One picture Cougars fans have fallen in love with in the last 24 hours is of Funk and Thornton standing with Parascak as he signs his NHL contract.
“There had been talks about [signing] almost right from draft day – obviously I will not say no to that,” he laughed. “They told me I was going to sign the contract – Hudson and Zac, we had been talking about if I was to sign this week we should get a photo together.”
“I asked the PR guy if that is something we would be able to do and they were very compliant with that. It was awesome to have those two guys there.”
Takeaways from this vid:
1. Perry’s a beaut
2. These skating drills are diabolical#CapsDevCamp pic.twitter.com/vnSLjYsV2k— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 4, 2024
The drills the prospects were put through at the camp were not typical, as shown in the above video.
“Almost all of them I don’t think I have attempted to do before,” Parascak said with a laugh. “When you see it happen it looks really simple but it definitely wasn’t easy.”
“There are some big name players here from past drafts and some signed NHL players. The level of play was off the charts, it is great to be around those guys,” he continued.
It will still be a few months before he puts a Cougar jersey back on, but Parascak is already looking forward to returning to Prince George.
“Thank you for all the support in me and our team,” he told fans. “Looking forward to next season, getting in front of Cougars fans. I can’t wait!”
In his first year with the team, Parascak, dubbed “the Super Rookie” in Prince George and around the WHL, put up 105 points in the best rookie forward campaign in franchise history.
He was one of three Cougars to crack 100 points last season, and just the fifth to do so in team history.
Entering his second year with the team, he jokingly said fans will need to find a new nickname for him as he sheds his rookie label.
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