ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Nanook defensemen Colton Parayko has agreed to terms on a two-year entry level contract with the St. Louis Blues, announced team President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong on Tuesday.
"This is something that you dream of as a kid growing up and playing hockey," said Parayko. "It's really tough to leave but I have made some great friendships and memories that I will be able to keep for the rest of my life."
Parayko has been assigned to the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Chicago Wolves after he was originally drafted by the Blues in the third round, 86th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
"I am very happy for Colton and his family as he has worked extremely hard for this opportunity," said head coach Dallas Ferguson. "It's hard to see an athlete leave college early but I fully support his decision. In his time here as Nanook he has developed into a great NCAA defensemen and a tremendous leader for Nanook Hockey."
Continued Ferguson, "Colton's work ethic and character are second to none and I'm very confident he will successfully continue his path to becoming an everyday National Hockey League player. We are grateful to have had him in our program and we want to wish him nothing but success in this next chapter of his life and hockey career."
This season, Parayko finished third on the team and first amongst defensemen in points with 23. The junior also was second on the team with 17 assists and tied for the team-lead with five power play goals, while he scored six overall.
Voted team captain, Paryako led the team with 67 blocked shots and in ice time per game while he also had seven multi-point weekends and was named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic team, for the second season in a row.
Last season, Paryako was also named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-WCHA, a WCHA Scholar Athlete and was named to the Division I All-American Second Team.
"Being a Nanook was an unbelievable experience, it was definitely one of the best decisions of my life," said Parayko. "I'm so proud to be a part of Alaska hockey and I could not ask anything more from this program. They do everything the right, proper and professional way, which is important for me and anyone who has the pleasure of playing here. I've been able to not only improve my game in so many levels, but I've also been able to improve as a person in my time here at Alaska."
Overall, Parayko dressed in 104 collegiate games, accumulating 66 points from 17 goals and 49 assists, a mark that puts him tied for eighth on the all-time Nanook scoring list amongst defensemen.
