Zayne Parekh

Zayne Parekh (born February 15, 2006) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a prospect to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career
While playing AAA hockey for the Markham Majors in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, Parekh was selected 19th overall in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft by the Saginaw Spirit. He signed with the Spirit on May 19 and made his OHL debut on October 1, in a 10–6 victory over the Guelph Storm.

In his first full OHL season in 2022–23, Parekh recorded 21 goals and 37 points across 50 games, breaking the record for most goals by a 16-year-old defenceman. He was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team.

The 2023–24 season saw Parekh continue as a prolific scorer and attract considerable notice from commentators and scouts. On January 20, 2024, Parekh tied the Saginaw Spirit club record set by Patrick McNeill for most goals by a defenseman in a single season, and not long after was selected as one of 40 draft-eligible prospects to attend the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He was suspended for two games following an incident after a stoppage in play during a game against the Windsor Spitfires on January 21, 2024. He finished the season with 33 goals and 96 points, becoming only the second defenceman in league history to score at least thirty goals in their first season of NHL draft eligibility.

Following the season, he received the Max Kaminsky Trophy as OHL defenceman of the year, and finished second in voting for the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's most valuable player, behind Easton Cowan. As well, he was named to the First All-Star Team. Parekh was ultimately given the CHL Defenceman of the Year Award as the best defenceman of the three CHL component leagues, and named to the CHL First All-Star Team. In the postseason, Parekh was a key figure in the Spirit's deep playoff run, but injury caused him to miss the opening game of the team's Western Conference Final series against the London Knights. He returned thereafter, but The Hockey News opined that he remained "a little banged up" and did not perform to his former standard. The Knights ultimately defeated the Spirit in six games.

Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, Parekh's strengths such as his skating, strong shot, and puckhandling were applauded, while concerns were raised about his decision making and positioning, drawing comparisons to Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes.

On July 5, 2024, after being drafted ninth overall, Parekh signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames.

International play
Parekh represented Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording three assists in five games to help claim a gold medal.

Personal life
Parekh is of Indian and South Korean heritage and the youngest of three hockey-playing brothers. He graduated high school at 15 years old, after which he took classes at the University of Toronto.