Zach Parise can't wait to put on American colors. Especially after the way his season ended in the spring.

A lower-back injury cost the Minnesota Wild winger his chance to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he's on the mend and looking forward to taking the ice in Toronto at the World Cup in September.

"I feel like I'll be fine to play," Parise told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. The veteran will get the final word from doctors before he heads north, but he isn't harboring doubts about his availability.

Parise called the opportunity to play for the U.S. "special."

"I hate saying it," the 32-year-old added, "but especially where I am in my career as it's going by, you just don't know how many opportunities again you're going to get."

Parise had 25 goals and 28 assists in 70 games in 2015-16. His next regular-season goal will be No. 300 in his career. Injuries were the story in 2016, though. He played through leg issues before his back forced him out of the Wild lineup. He watched as his club lost in six games in the first round to the Dallas Stars.

The Minneapolis native called his injury troubles "scary," and while he didn't have surgery, intense physical therapy has led to progress. He's skating and hopes to be "back to normal" before leaving for Toronto.

The World Cup begins Sept. 17, with American training camp opening up Sept. 4.

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