J.P. Paris, who mentored Sidney Crosby, 'greatly missed'

A man who played forCanada's 1972 Summit Series game and helped train Cole Harbour hockey phenom Sidney Crosby is being remembered for his contribution to Canada's game.

J.P. Paris, played for both the Minnestoa North Stars and the New York Islanders, among others.He died of lung cancer last week at his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake. He was73.

• J.P. Paris, known for Summit Series meltdown, dies at 73

Paris's son and Wild star Zach Paris informed the team of his father's death.

"We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends and the entire hockey community during this difficult time," the Paris family said Thursday in a statement. "J.P. was a great husband, father and grandpa and will be greatly missed by all of us."

During his playing career, Paris is most remembered for skating on a line with Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman during the Summit Series and getting ejected in the eighth game, which Canada won on Paul Henderson's famous goal. Paris played in six of the eight games during the legendary series against the Soviet Union.

"J.P. Paris played an integral role in one of the greatest moments in Canadian hockey history, and his contributions to the game, both in Canada and the United States, will not soon be forgotten," said Hockey Canada president Tom Renney. "We send our condolences to the Paris family during this difficult time."

Friend and longtime teammate Tom Reid said he has a photo of Paris going after the referee in that final game hanging in his pub.

"I think that kind of turned things around," Reid told reporters in St. Paul, Minn. "The referee didn't call any more penalties against Canada. He was a big part of the success of that."

Paris's 'passion for the NHL lives on'

Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith credits that team for the growth of the game across Canada.

"I think that group of 1972 players contributed greatly to both things: the interest in international hockey and the significance of any Canada-Russia game but also for the development of coaches at the grassroots level," Smith said in a phone interview.

Sidney Crosby, who played for Paris at Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school, said during Canada's 2014 Olympic orientation camp that some of what he knows of the Canada-Russia rivalry came from his coach. Paris, a native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., spent most of his NHL career with the North Stars and was a two-time all-star.

He had 594 points (238 goals, 356 assists) in 890 games from 1965-79 with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, North Stars, Islanders and Cleveland Barons.

"The National Hockey League family mourns the passing and cherishes the memory of J.P. Paris," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Especially in his adopted home state of Minnesota, J.P. was a consummate player, teacher and administrator in the game.

"The Paris name has been prominent in Minnesota hockey since the 1960s, and J.P.'s commitment and passion for the NHL lives on through his son, Zach. The NHL sends heartfelt condolences to J.P.'s family, to his friends, to the Minnesota Wild organization and to all the organizations J.P. represented with such passion."

After retirement, Paris spent nine seasons as a North Stars assistant coach. He later ran the hockey program at Shattuck-St. Mary's school in Faribault, one of the top prep hockey schools in the U.S. Paris helped oversee the growth of NHL stars such as Crosby and Jonathan Toews.

"He was the director when they were here and was a big part of those guys," Shattuck-St. Mary's hockey director Tom Ward said. "I know both those guys spent some weekends at the Pariss' house and he let them come over and stay in Zach and Jordan's bedroom a couple weekends and helped those kids along when they were a long way from home and young kids and was a mentor to a lot of kids here."

'That's life'

In an interview last year with the Star Tribune, Paris was philosophical about his cancer.

"That's life," he said. "If someone was to tell you today that you're going to be going at 77, 78, you'd say, 'Boy, that's not bad.' I never think of this shortening my life, this shortening anything I'm going to do. I'm still going to travel, I'm still going to watch hockey."

Over the weekend, Zach Paris talked about the impending loss of his father with the Star Tribune.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life," he told the newspaper. "You try and find that separation, you try to come here and be around the guys and not think about it, and Yeozie (coach Mike Yeo) has been really good and the team's been really good giving me the day off, saying basically, 'Just show up for games.' They've been really supportive about it, but the hard part about it is you try to go to the rink and forget about stuff, but the hard part is, this was kind of our thing."

"Hockey was our thing," Paris added, fighting back tears. "Him coming to every game or watching every game and talking to him after every game and talking hockey, that's not there anymore."

Zach Paris also went to Shattuck and is now in his 10th NHL season and third with the Wild.

Former Stars forward Mike Modano posted a note on Twitter after hearing the news.

"Our Thoughts and prayers go out to Zach Paris and his family on the passing of J.P. All our best," Modano tweeted.