Colton Parayko

Colton Parayko (born May 12, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Growing up in St. Albert, Alberta, Parayko played minor ice hockey with the St. Albert Flyers and Fort McMurray Oil Barons before earning a scholarship to the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Parayko was born on May 12, 1993, in St. Albert, Alberta, to native Ukrainians Tom and Karen Parayko with three siblings, Kendra, Bryce, and Kennedy.

Besides hockey, Parayko and his brother Bryce competed in motocross dirt bikes circuits throughout Alberta.

Growing up, Parayko spent his youth hockey career in his hometown of St. Albert, Alberta while attending Paul Kane High School.

After going unselected in the 2008 Western Hockey League (WHL) draft, he signed a contract with the Midget AAA St. Albert Flyers.

Following his first season with the Flyers, Parayko joined the St. Albert Crusaders U18 AA where he recorded 13 points in 33 games.

The Crusaders finished second in the league and reached the playoff finals against the KC Colts U18 AA.

At the conclusion of the 2009–10 season, he experienced a six-inch growth spurt and signed with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

As he was not invited to their initial training camp, Parayko had to spend $60 to try out for the Oil Barons and become their seventh defenceman.

While competing for the Oil Barons, Parayko came to the attention of National Hockey League (NHL) scout Marshall Davidson.

After seeing Parayko play only 20-second shifts during a game, he approached the healthy scratches to ask why.

When they responded that he was playing with a cracked rib, Davidson continued to watch him play at various arenas before recommending the St. Louis Blues draft him.

After the Oil Barons were defeated by the Spruce Grove Saints in the 2011 AJHL Finals, Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey coach Dallas Ferguson approached Parayko and recruited him for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Although he had also been offered an opportunity in the WHL, Parayko committed to Alaska that summer.

In his first year of NHL eligibility, Parayko went unselected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and failed to make the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's prospect list the following year.

In spite of this, the St. Louis Blues drafted him in the third round at the age of 19.

Parayko was not expecting to be drafted and figured he would end up either in finance or a pilot like his brother.

He went overlooked and undrafted in his first year of NHL eligibility before being selected 86th overall as a 19-year-old in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.

Following the draft, Parayko played three seasons with the Alaska Nanooks, earning All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) First Team and West Second-Team All-American honors.

Parayko played collegiate hockey for the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the NCAA Men's Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) beginning in the 2012–2013 season.

In his freshman season, Parayko recorded his first collegiate goal in a 3–3 tie against the Air Force Falcons on October 12, 2012.

He ended the year with four goals and 13 assists for 17 points.

In his sophomore year with the Nanooks ice hockey team, Parayko's outstanding play was rewarded with an appointment to alternate captain.

In this role, he was one of only five players to play in all 34 games for the team and recorded six goals and 17 assists for 23 points.

He placed second in the WCHA in points for defensemen and sixth overall in assists.

As a result, he was selected to the AHCA West Second-Team All-American.

He was also awarded the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defensive Player of the Year award and named to the All-WCHA First Team.

In his final season with the team, Parayko was appointed team captain alongside forwards Garrick Perry and Tyler Morley as alternate captains.

He recorded 23 points over 34 games to rank third on the team and was once again named to the All-American Second Team by the American Hockey Coaches Association and CCM.

Parayko also received the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defensive Player of the Year and was selected for their All-WCHA First Team alongside teammate Tyler Morley for the second time.

From the team, he received the Shawn Chambers Top Defenseman, Rick Pitta Most Dedicated Player, the Pump House Team Player Award, and the Fans' Choice Award,

At the completion of his junior season with the Nanooks, Parayko ended his collegiate career by signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Parayko was immediately reassigned to the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, to play out the remainder of the 2014–15 season before finally making his NHL debut the following season.

He concluded his collegiate career in 2015 to begin his professional career within the Blues organization.

He was subsequently reassigned to Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, to finish the 2014–15 season on March 12, 2015.

He made his AHL debut a few days later on March 15 and recorded a total of three goals and two assists over his first 11 professional games.

Parayko ended the season with one more goal for a total of 7 points over 17 games.

Parayko competed for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Parayko won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.