Parent was a high-scoring defenseman in his final season of junior hockey, recording nearly 2 points per game in 1986. The gaudy numbers convinced the New York Rangers to select him with their 11th round selection in the 1986 NHL Draft. Parent joined the program at North Dakota the following year and lucked into one of the most dominant performances by any team I the history of college hockey. UND became the first team to win 40 games and were led by all-time single-season scoring champion Tony Hrkac as well as future Hall of Famer Ed Belfour. The Fighting Sioux won the National Championship with Parent serving mostly as a depth defender.