Terik Parascak’s season to remember continued on Saturday night.
The Capitals’ 2024 first-round pick made his AHL debut in the Hershey Bears’ final game of the regular season on April 19 — a 4-3 lost to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Parascak took the ice at the young age of 18 years and 326 days
Parascak suited up on the right wing of the third line, skating with forward Brennan Saulnier and Garrett Roe, who was playing in his final regular season game of his career.
Parascak finished the night a minus-one after getting power-play time and being on the ice when Phantoms’ Brendan Furry scored shorthanded.
Parascak was one of three AHL debuts on the evening for the Bears. Forward Ludwig Persson, a Capitals’ 2022 third-round pick, and depth goaltender Seth Eisele, who signed an AHL contract in November, also made their first appearances in chocolate in white. Persson notched his first career point via an assist on a Luke Philp goal while Eisele started for the Bears and stopped 16 of 20 shots.
Other notable AHL debuts for the Bears over the past few weeks include forward Leon Muggli (Capitals 2024 second-round pick); defensemen Ryan Chesley (Capitals’ 2022 second-round pick), David Gucciardi (Capitals 2022 seventh-round pick), and Hudson Thornton (AHL contract); and goaltender Garin Bjorklund (Capitals 2020 sixth-round pick).
As for Parascak, his game with the Bears on Saturday marked the third different team he’s suited up for this season. After signing a three-year, entry-level contract shortly after being drafted by the Capitals in June, Parascak participated in his first NHL training camp where his first rep was defending Alex Ovechkin. ‘”And he just toe-dragged me,” Parascak said.
Parascak made his preseason debut for the Capitals on September 23, 2024, posting a game high 9 individual shot attempts. He also assisted on an Ivan Miroshnichenko power-play goal – his first professional preseason point.
Parascak was returned to the WHL’s Prince George Cougars on October 1. The prospect notched 82 points (28g, 54a) in 59 regular season games with the Cougars — fourth-most among players 18-or-younger in the WHL. Parascak’s season ended on April 7 after Prince George fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Portland Winterhawks. The Capitals prospect led the Cougars in points, posting 10 (4g, 6a) in seven games.
The Capitals officially loaned Parascak to Hershey six days later. He’ll now likely suit up as a black ace while the team attempts to three peat in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.
