The NHL announced today that former enforcer, actor in Goon: Last of the Enforcers, and Princeton University graduate, George Parros, has been named Senior Vice President of Player Safety. Parros’ position will be “effective immediately.”
Parros will be replacing former defenseman Stephane Quintal, who is stepping down to pursue other opportunities within the game after holding the position since 2014. Quintal will still be involved through the next season to assist in the transition.
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“George possesses one of the brightest and most innovative young minds in our game,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said after the announcement was made official. “He has immersed himself in all aspects of Player Safety during the last 12 months and his selection to run this department not only will maintain the stability and consistency in decision-making that have been essential to the Department’s success but also will enable it to continue evolving in step with our game.”
Parros first began working for the Department of Player Safety last season, helping interpret on-ice rule violations.
“It’s an interesting opportunity to not only watch a lot of hockey and remain in the sport, but kind of affect what’s going on in the sport in a way that things move forward,” Parros said to NHL.com last year after first getting hired. “You’re trying educate the players, and the thing that best suits me for the job is that I’ve played the game for a long time and played as physical as anybody else, perhaps more so, and never once got fined or suspended.”
During his nine-year NHL career, Parros racked up 1,092 penalty minutes, including 159 fighting majors. Parros also owns the popular t-shirt brand Violent Gentlemen.
More from the NHL:
NEW YORK (Sept. 7, 2017) — George Parros has been named Senior Vice President of Player Safety and will take over the leadership of the department effective immediately, the National Hockey League announced today.
Stephane Quintal is stepping down to pursue other opportunities within the game. However, he has agreed to remain with the Department through the end of the 2017-18 season to assist in the transition as Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Special Projects.
“George possesses one of the brightest and most innovative young minds in our game,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “He has immersed himself in all aspects of Player Safety during the last 12 months and his selection to run this department not only will maintain the stability and consistency in decision-making that have been essential to the Department’s success but also will enable it to continue evolving in step with our game.
“We thank Stephane for the passion and dedication he brought to the National Hockey League from the day he first joined us soon after the Department of Player Safety’s inception in 2011 and since taking over as the head of the department three years ago. We expect Stephane will play a valuable role in the transition process and we intend this season to utilize his many talents and relationships in the game to further other League initiatives outside of Player Safety as well.”
An eighth-round selection (222nd overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1999 NHL Draft, Parros also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks (with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2007), Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens during a nine-year NHL career. The native of Randolph, N.J., is a graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in economics. Parros played four seasons at Princeton and served as team captain during his senior season.
so the dude who makes/sells this is gonna be the head of nhl player safety? cool. pic.twitter.com/pjb6SBZlPO
— alix 🌼🌸 (@freckledbutt) September 7, 2017
Headline Photo: Bruce Bennett
