George Parros
Enforcer and Stanley Cup winner turned head of NHL player safety.
George James Parros is an American former professional ice hockey player who spent nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He now heads the NHL’s Department of Player Safety as senior vice president of player safety, deciding fines and suspensions for on-ice incidents. During his playing career, Parros primarily served as an enforcer. He was a member of the Anaheim Ducks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, to a family of Greek descent, Parros grew up in Randolph, New Jersey. He played for the New Jersey Colonials (then the Morris County team) and attended Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1994–1995 and later All-State recognition. After high school, he was spotted by Princeton scouts at an offseason event and offered a chance to play hockey at Princeton University.
After graduating high school in 1998, Parros deferred his admission to Princeton to play junior hockey for the Chicago Freeze in the North American Hockey League during the 1998–99 season. In 54 games with the Freeze, he nearly averaged a point per game, using the year to improve his play and gain size.
At Princeton, Parros played four seasons, totaling 52 points and 119 penalty minutes in 111 games. He was named team captain for his senior year in 2002–03. He majored in economics and wrote his senior thesis on the West Coast longshoremen’s labor dispute. In 2010, the Sporting News ranked him the fourth-smartest athlete in sports.
The Los Angeles Kings selected Parros in the eighth round (222nd overall) of the 1999 NHL entry draft. After Princeton, he joined the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, where he stayed through the 2004–05 season. His best season came in 2004–05, when he posted 22 points (14 goals, 8 assists) and 247 penalty minutes, finishing second on the team in that category. He also played three games with the Reading Royals in the ECHL, where he took boxing lessons to improve his fighting.
Parros made his NHL debut with the Kings on October 5, 2005, becoming the seventh Princeton Tiger to play in the league. He scored his first NHL goal on October 20 against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center, also recording an assist and a major fighting penalty in the same game—a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1979-12-29
- Birth Place
- Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 5
- Weight Lb
- 232
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- Los Angeles Kings / Colorado Avalanche / Anaheim Ducks / Florida Panthers / Montreal Canadiens
- Draft
- 222nd overall
- Draft Year
- 1999
- Draft Team
- Los Angeles Kings
- Career Start
- 2005
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Parros grew up in Randolph, New Jersey, and played high school hockey at the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. After high school, he deferred admission to Princeton University to play junior hockey with the Chicago Freeze in the North American Hockey League during the 1998–99 season. He played four years at Princeton University, where he majored in economics and wrote his senior thesis on the West Coast longshoremen's labor dispute. In 2010, he was chosen as the fourth-smartest athlete in sports by the Sporting News.
Parros was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the eighth round of the 1999 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut with the Kings on October 5, 2005, becoming the seventh Princeton Tiger to play in the NHL. He scored his first NHL goal on October 20 against the Dallas Stars, recording a Gordie Howe hat trick in that game. After being waived by the Kings and picked up by the Colorado Avalanche, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in November 2006. He was a member of the Ducks team that won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
Parros is known for his large mustache, which he often grew during the season, inspired by a musician named Sean 'Greazy' Bryan. He also grew his hair long. 'George Parros Mustaches' were sold at the Anaheim Ducks team store, with proceeds going to charity. He has a line of apparel called 'Stache Gear' that benefits The Garth Brooks Teammates For Kids Foundation.
Reader's Guide
George Parros's significance lies in his dual identity as a classic NHL enforcer and later as the league's top disciplinary official. On the ice, he was a physical presence who led the Anaheim Ducks in fighting majors during their 2007 Stanley Cup season and accumulated high penalty minutes throughout his career. His role as an enforcer was central to his playing identity, and he was known for his distinctive mustache and long hair, which became marketable merchandise for charity.
After retiring, Parros transitioned to the NHL's Department of Player Safety, eventually becoming its head as senior vice president of player safety. In this role, he is tasked with determining suspensions or fines for on-ice incidents. His tenure has been marked by controversy, particularly regarding a 2021 incident involving Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson. Parros assessed Wilson a $5,000 fine for punching an opponent, drawing widespread condemnation from coaches, players, and the media. The New York Rangers released an unprecedented statement publicly condemning Parros by name and calling for his removal, for which the NHL fined the Rangers $250,000. Parros has stated that his playing experience uniquely positions him for the job, noting he was never fined or suspended despite playing physically.
Did You Know?
- Parros scored a Gordie Howe hat trick in his first NHL goal game.
- He wrote his senior thesis at Princeton on the West Coast longshoremen's labor dispute.
- He once took boxing lessons while playing in the ECHL to become a better fighter.
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