niversity of North Dakota (USA): The University of North Dakota sophomore is making a return appearance to the WJC this year for Team USA. The native of Fairbault, Minnesota is a prospect of the New Jersey Devils, who was selected in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (first round, 17th overall). He is the son of former NHLer J. P. Parise. The immensely gifted center is enjoying another terrific year on arguably the most exciting and potent top line in the nation. Parise has thus far racked up 16 points (six goals, ten assists), which ranks him third on the team in that category. In both goals and assists he is tied for second on the team. He also leads the team in shots taken with 55. In his freshman year, Parise became North Dakota’s first rookie finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He led the nation in points per game (1.56) among rookies and overall finished eighth in the nation in scoring with 61 points (26 goals, 35 assists). In international play, Parise was a member of the United States’ gold-medal winning U-18 World team in Slovakia in 2002. At the 2002-03 WJC in Canada, he led Team USA in points with eight.