At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Minnesota native Zach Parise scored one of the biggest goals in United States hockey history. With 24 seconds left in regulation and the American squad down 2–1 against Canada in the gold medal game, Parise pounced on a rebound at the top of Canada’s crease, tied the score and pandemonium ensued.

It was a quintessential Zach Parise goal, one full of grit and skill in high traffic. But his monumental goal was more than merely a talented and opportunistic player being at the right place at the right time. Parise’s stout work ethic, nose for the puck and rigorous training and conditioning sessions prepared him for that exact moment.

Today, Parise continues to be one of hockey’s most well-rounded and dedicated forwards, making him one of the best players for young athletes to emulate. But how does a young hockey player actually “Play like Parise?”

Minnesota Hockey breaks down the cornerstones of Parise’s successful hockey career.

Small Size, Big Bite: “The biggest thing about Zach is his tenacity,” says Ryan Suter, Parise’s Minnesota Wild teammate and fellow 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympian.

Suter is widely considered to be one of the NHL’s top defensemen. He has battled with Parise his entire amateur and collegiate hockey career and is now consistently matched up against him in practice.

“It doesn’t matter how big or small the guy that Zach’s going up against, he’s going to compete. I think that mindset is his biggest asset.”

Net Front Presence: Parise has scored 475 points (227 goals, 248 assists) in 587 NHL games. A large percentage of his points have been scored in the hard-fought areas around the net.

Consequently, Parise dedicates countless hours before and after practice to working on his hands, specifically hand-eye coordination exercises around the net, as seen in this video.

“He knows that if you’re going to score, you have to go to the net,” explains Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle. “He’s always ready for rebounds, always hounding near the net.” 

Lead By Example: On Nov. 25, 2013, the Wild faced the St. Louis Blues in a heated divisional game. The Blues were on a power play when Parise stepped in front of a one-timer by Blues sniper Alex Steen and successfully blocked the shot, but he also earned a broken bone in his foot in the process.

While the injury was unfortunate, it was that sort of unselfish play by a star player that makes Parise so valued by his teammates. Even though he’s an elite player and the team’s top scorer, he makes multiple contributions to the team, many of which never show up on the stat sheet.

“He’s a true two-way player,” says Coyle. “He’s always making stuff happen, always contributing. He forechecks and backchecks, scores, plays defensively, and blocks shots.”

Skating is Key: The secret to a lot of Parise’s success can be found in the work he’s done to improve his skating ability. Through the years, he’s developed his explosive acceleration, sharpened his angles and lowered his center of gravity.

Because of his dedication to training, Parise is now one of the games toughest players to move off the puck, a fact that belies his somewhat small stature (5’11” 190 pounds).

“People talk a lot about his work in small areas, the battles, but it’s all in his balance,” notes Suter. “He’s solid. You run into him and he’s not going to get knocked off.”

Go to the Gym: Parise’s tireless work on the ice is just one part of his training regimen. His work in the gym is equally intense. As he approaches the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Parise continues to be a leader in conditioning and strength training for the Americans, as you can see in this video.

Strength training can be a vital component to all young athletes, not just hockey players. For more information, check out Can My Child Start Strength Training?

Create Your Own Luck: Coyle knows exactly why Parise found himself in front of Canada’s crease and scored that monumental goal in the Olympics.

“He hounds the puck,” Coyle says. “Clearly he has a lot of skill and great hands, but the way he hustles, he doesn’t wait for things to happen. He makes them happen.”