Colton Parayko established himself as one of the most accomplished defensemen in Alaska Nanooks hockey history during his three-year career from 2012-15. A powerful presence on the blue line, Parayko appeared in 104 games for Alaska, recording 66 points on 17 goals and 49 assists while finishing his career with a +16 rating. His combination of size, skill, defensive ability and offensive production quickly made him one of the premier defensemen in the WCHA.
Parayko’s impact was especially evident during his final two seasons. He was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, while earning WCHA First All-Star Team and NCAA West Second All-American honors in each of those seasons. At Alaska, he was twice named the Shawn Chambers Best Defenseman and also earned the 2014 Top Playoff Performer, 2015 Chad Staley Team Player Award and Fans Choice Award in both 2014 and 2015. Parayko served as an assistant captain during the 2013-14 season before taking over as captain as a senior.
His success at Alaska quickly translated to the professional level. After beginning his professional career with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, Parayko became a fixture on the St. Louis Blues blue line. He earned NHL All-Rookie Team honors in 2015-16 and went on to build a career spanning more than a decade and nearly 800 NHL games. His professional career reached its pinnacle in 2019, when he helped lead the St. Louis Blues to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.
Parayko has also continued to represent Canada on the international stage. He earned a silver medal at the 2016-17 IIHF World Championship while being named to the tournament’s All-Star Team and leading all defensemen in goals. He again led all defensemen in goals at the 2017-18 World Championship and later earned Top 3 Player on Team honors at the 2024 World Championship. Most recently, Parayko added an Olympic silver medal with Canada in 2026.
While Parayko’s accomplishments at the NHL and international levels speak to the caliber of player he became, his connection to Alaska and the Fairbanks hockey community has remained strong. During his professional offseason, he has regularly returned to Fairbanks to host the Colton Parayko Hockey Camp at Patty Ice Arena. Working with players across a variety of ages and skill levels, Parayko takes time to teach the game, focus on individual skills and connect personally with the young athletes who attend his camp.
Parayko’s commitment to giving back has also extended beyond the rink. He has supported Project 55, an organization dedicated to providing financial and emotional relief to hospitalized children and their families, while continuing to demonstrate the leadership and community-mindedness that earned him a nomination for the NHL’s King Clancy Trophy.
From becoming a two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time UAF Best Defenseman to winning a Stanley Cup and representing Canada on the international stage, Colton Parayko’s career has been defined by excellence, leadership and continued growth.
