‘You need some personality’: Zayne Parekh doing things his way for Canada at world juniors

Zain Parekh started by recording his shot.

The slick defenseman told friend and teammate Michael Hage he was going to score a low goal with a blocker early in Canada's game against Finland on New Year's Eve at the men's world junior hockey championship in Minneapolis.

Parekh did just that moments later before showing off his passing ability with a breakaway pass to Tij Iginla to score in a 7-4 win that secured top spot in Group B and a quarter-final tie with Slovakia.

The 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ontario, who has played 11 games for the Calgary Flames this season, is a special talent. He could be even more unique off the ice, especially in a sport with strict traditions, as he was unapologetic in his own way in all situations.

“I think it's more like the NHL guys are robots without any personality,” Parekh said Thursday when asked why he's comfortable baring his soul to the media in both good times and bad. “I think you need individuality and that's the best way to develop the game. I don't want to come here and be a robot. When I'm in Calgary, I definitely have a lot of guys telling me to give very simple answers.”

“But here I can do what I want.”

Parekh probably had a similar feeling—he did what he wanted—when the puck dropped on the world juniors. His eight points are tied for the tournament lead, leading all defensemen and the most by a Canadian Blues team in the preliminary round since Ryan Ellis in 2011.

Hage, who grew up with Parekh on skating rinks in and around Toronto, said the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 draft has always had his own style.

“Pretty laid-back guy, even in games,” said Hage, a first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens. “You will miss big chances, and he will come and laugh at you. He makes everything look pretty easy, and it honestly helps you not get too upset.”

“Very loose,” added Canadian captain Porter Marton. “He never gets too anxious or excited.”

Assistant coach Brad Lauer said Parekh's approach shouldn't be confused with laziness or a lack of ambition as Canada looks to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023 after consecutive fifth-place finishes and a win over the Slovaks on Friday.

“Very driven kid,” Lauer said. “Sometimes he can be misunderstood. But for me, just let him shine, let him be him and understand what the team game is and how we want to play. He understands that.”

“That's the most important thing.”

Head coach Dale Hunter added that the six-foot, 187-pound defenseman has the freedom within the system to move around the ice when needed.

“We have some rules,” the veteran bench player said. “He has to see the opportunity when it’s there. And when she's not there, don't do it. It's his business.”

Parekh, who had a pair of 30-goal seasons and 107 points with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, scored a goal in his NHL debut in April.

But he had just one assist in those 11 games this season, averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time before suffering an upper-body injury in November that sidelined him until the World Juniors.

Parekh, who said he gets a lot of support from his Calgary teammates, is counting on the annual men's under-20 tournament to help him get his mojo back at the professional level.

“I’m showing what I can do,” he said. “I’ve had a rough couple of months, hopefully this has sparked my game.”

Cut from last year's Canadian squad, Parekh is enjoying the ride that has brought back his big smile and is dreaming of gold.

“It was so much fun,” he said. “It's coming to an end, but it was just great for me. It's just refreshing. I really need this.”

“I love every second.”

Quarterfinal bout

Slovakia, which lost in the round-robin to Sweden, the United States and Switzerland by one goal, finished fourth in Group A and set up a meeting with Canada.

“We are up against a great team with enormous talent,” said head coach Peter Fruhauf. “It will be hard, but we became a family on the way here. The boys are ready to die for each other.”

“It will take 100 percent and more,” he added. “We have to get out of our comfort zone. In such a situation, nothing is impossible… who knows.”

Poppy celebration

Canadian forward Michael Misa was pleased to learn that his San Jose Sharks teammate McLean Celebrini, who at 19 is still eligible to compete at the World Juniors, has made the country's Olympic roster.

“Now everyone can see what he did in his first year in the league and the leap he made this year,” Misa said. “It’s incredible – I’m really happy for him.”