‘An ankle-breaker’: Canada’s Zayne Parekh unfazed by spotlight as world juniors loom

Zayne Parekh carries the puck in practice during Canada's training camp in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

NIAGARA FALLS — Zayne Parekh cut a slightly different figure.

The Calgary Flames defenceman known for his positive, laid-back outlook seemed a little gloomy.

Parekh was navigating his first full NHL season when he suffered an upper-body injury in early November. As the 19-year-old worked his way back to full health, general manager Craig Conroy floated the idea of joining Canada for the world junior hockey championship.

“The biggest thing that they noticed was some days I wasn’t always having that smile on my face like I usually do,” Parekh said. “That’s something they want from me. When (Conroy) asked if I wanted to go, I immediately said yes.

“They just want me to go have fun and get my groove back.”

With that one conversation, the men’s under-20 national program got a big boost.

Despite putting up just one assist in 11 games with Calgary, the smooth-skating, right-shot talent from Nobleton, Ont., has been showing off his elite offensive skill at Canada’s training camp.

Parekh put up 33 goals and 107 points in 2024-25 with the Saginaw Spirit to lead all Canadian Hockey League blueliners. The ninth overall pick at the 2024 NHL draft also became just the second defenceman in Ontario Hockey League/Ontario Hockey Association history — joining Bobby Orr — to put up consecutive 30-goal seasons.

“Dynamic,” said Dale Hunter, who’s back to coach Canada after winning gold in 2020. “I call him an ankle-breaker. He’s made a few of our wingers fall down. He gives a head fake, he’s got great hands and got great vision.”

The six-foot, 187-pound Parekh wasn’t initially invited to last year’s selection camp before being added due to an injury. He got into a couple of scrimmages against Canadian university players, but was among the cuts.

“I wanted to be on that team,” said Parekh, choosing his words carefully. “But it’s not something I’m bitter about.”

It turns out Canada could have used him in Ottawa. Matthew Schaefer, who would be selected No. 1 overall at June’s NHL draft and has had a terrific start with the New York Islanders, broke his clavicle in the country’s second game.

The underperforming hosts — largely devoid of game-breaking talent on the back end — wound up scoring just 13 goals across five games, including going 4-for-19 on the power play, and exited the showcase before the medal round for a second straight year.

Alan Millar, GM of Canada’s world junior setup, said Parekh will be expected to fill a similar role to Schaefer’s before he crashed into the net against Latvia some 12 months ago.

“We need him in more situations than just power play,” Millar said. “But we all know a lot of times this tournament comes down to goaltending and special teams. To have an elite offensive player at the top on the first-unit power play, 100-point defenceman in the CHL … a great piece for us.”

Parekh, who scored in his NHL debut in April and hasn’t played a game since Nov. 7, said the jump from the OHL to the Flames has been eye-opening.

“A really big gap there,” said the first CHL defenceman this century to break the 90-point plateau more than once after registering 96 in 2023-24. “I’m trying to find my way, find my rhythm. I’m 19 and I’m playing in the NHL, so I’m doing something right. It’s been a little slow, but just trusting the process.”

Parekh’s teammates are impressed by his easygoing approach to high-pressure situations.

“In a good way, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more of a nonchalant player,” said Canadian star forward Gavin McKenna. “He’s just so calm and so smooth and so silky. His edge work, his hands, his brain, he makes all these good plays, and he does it so calmly. He’s a rare defender.”

“His offensive ability is his shot and his deception,” added centre Cole Beaudoin. “You can see he’s played in the NHL. He’s got confidence in his game.”

That confidence with the puck started at a young age. Parekh, whose 107 points in 2024-25 marked the highest total by a CHL defenceman in 23 years, played up a year in minor hockey until his under-16 campaign.

“The most fun hockey can be is playing with the puck,” he said. “The game eventually slowed down for me.”

A key part of Saginaw’s Memorial Cup victory in 2024, Parekh said the spotlight on Canada when it hits the ice against Czechia in Minneapolis on Dec. 26 on the heels of back-to-back fifth-place finishes won’t faze him.

“It’ll just be another game for me — that’s how it has to be,” he said. “You never want to get too high, you never want to get too low. I’ve played in a lot of big games. I’ve played games in the NHL.

“The moment’s not gonna be any bigger than it should be.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2025.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press