John Parco
John Parco is an Italian-Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played most of his professional career with Asiago HC in the Serie A. He is currently the head coach of the Soo Thunderbirds in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and was formerly the head coach of Asiago HC and SG Cortina in Serie A. Internationally he represented Italy from 2003 until 2010 highlighted by scoring 3 goals in the Turin Olympics.Playing career
John Parco, born John Porco, played three seasons of junior hockey for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League from 1988 until 1991. He was drafted 248th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft but never played in the NHL. Instead Parco joined Asiago HC in Italy for two seasons. In 1993, Parco moved back to North America and split the season with the IHL's San Diego Gulls, the ECHL's Hampton Roads Admirals and the AHL's Saint John Flames. He moved back to Asiago the next season before moving to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany, spending two seasons with the Kaufbeurer Adler. He then had a two-year spell with the Ayr Scottish Eagles in the United Kingdom. He returned to Hampton Roads in 1999 for one season before moving back to Britain with the Cardiff Devils. In 2001, he returned to Asiago where he remained as a player until 2010 and then started working as an assistant coach. In 2004, he was player-coach of the team but had little success and was replaced mid-season while remaining as a player. He became head coach of Asiago again in 2012.
