Terik Parascak is no longer the WHL “Super Rookie” that the Washington Capitals made the 17th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old winger is headed into his second season under contract with the Caps and hoping to leave his mark on the team’s training camp this fall.
After being one of the new guys last year, Parascak has returned for his second rookie camp with the club and discussed Sunday how he plans to use the few days as a springboard for the real action later next week.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a little easier [the second time], I would say,” Parascak said. “More comfortable with all the staff and the surroundings as well. It always helps, being a little familiar with everything.”
The Capitals are holding their rookie camp at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for the third straight year. All of the on-ice work for the 23-man roster takes place at Navy’s Olympic-sized McMullen Hockey Arena.
“It’s been good,” Parascak said. “It kind of just gives you a little head start, gets you on the ice a little bit before main camp starts up. Just an opportunity to get to know the younger guys a little bit better, and I’m familiar with a lot of them now. So, it’s just been fun to get on the ice and work on some things before heading into main camp.”
The experience of past camps and time spent with the AHL’s Hershey Bears as a playoff black ace this past spring has helped Parascak grow close with the organization’s other top prospects. The Capitals added another top pick from the same junior league as Parascak this past June, selecting Lynden Lakovic from the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The two formerly fierce competitors, who turned teammates after Lakovic signed his entry-level contract with the Caps last July, are bonding further this week due to their living arrangements.
“Yeah, definitely [close with] a few guys,” Paracak said. “Obviously, recently, Lakovic, a Western League guy, so a little bit familiar with him. We’ve been roommates the past week here, so it’s good to hang out with him. Ilya Protas got drafted together the same year, so got close with him, and Patrick Thomas, too. There’s a lot of great guys in that room that we’ve all gotten pretty close. Spent some time in Hershey as well, so it’s been awesome.”
Parascak made his pro debut with the Bears last season, getting one game from head coach Todd Nelson before Hershey’s playoff run. The Capitals sent the Alberta native to Hershey after he recorded 82 points (28g, 54a) in 59 games for the Prince George Cougars.
The upcoming season will also be a big one for Parascak at the national team level as he seeks to make Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 World Juniors. He participated in the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase this past July and August and should be in the mix when Hockey Canada puts together its final team later this year.
First, though, Parascak has his eyes set on impressing the Capitals’ brass and leaving his name in their minds for the near future. He made his NHL preseason debut last fall and hopes to have a similar experience this year.
“I got a good opportunity last year to stick around for a while, so hopefully, do the same thing again and stick around a little bit longer if possible,” Parascak said. “Just kind of show my game to the staff and get as much experience as I can from the other guys before heading back to junior. [I want] to become a leader at the junior level or try to make my step in [the] pros.”
If the NHL and CHL can complete their renegotiations of their transfer agreement, Parascak could also make the leap to the professional game sooner than anticipated. Under the recently renewed CBA, each NHL team will be permitted to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season.
While the change was planned to go into effect for the 2026-27 campaign, the NHL is reportedly trying to move the updated rule up a year.
