Calgary Flames defence prospect Zayne Parekh is on the cusp of making history for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota. With two crucial games remaining, the 19-year-old is not only chasing a gold medal but also a prestigious national scoring record for defencemen.
On the Verge of a Defensive Scoring Record
As Canada prepares for its semifinal clash against Czechia on Sunday, January 3, 2026, Parekh sits atop the tournament scoring leaderboard with an impressive 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in just five games. This offensive outburst has him within striking distance of the Canadian record for most points by a defenceman at a single world junior tournament, which stands at 12.
That benchmark was first set by Bryan McCabe in 1995 and later matched by Alex Pietrangelo in 2010. With a semifinal and either a gold- or bronze-medal game left to play, Parekh has a prime opportunity to claim the record for himself. His quest continued with a two-assist performance in Canada's 7-1 quarterfinal rout of Slovakia on Friday.
A Confidence-Boosting Performance for the Flames' Future
Parekh's dominant performance on the international stage comes at an ideal time. Before being loaned to Team Canada, the ninth overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft had recorded just one point in 11 appearances with the Flames and was dealing with an upper-body injury. The Flames organization, including General Manager Craig Conroy who is now in Minnesota to watch the playoff rounds, hoped the world juniors would reignite his confidence.
That plan has worked spectacularly. Parekh has been a cornerstone for Canada, quarterbacking a lethal power-play that has gone 8-for-17 in the tournament and leading the team in average ice time at 19:37 per game. His offensive flair and poise have been on full display, reminding everyone why he is considered a franchise building block for Calgary.
"It has been so much fun," Parekh told TSN. "I wish I could stay here all year and hang out here as long as possible. It's been great for me. It's a refresher. I really needed this, and I'm loving every second."
Gold Medal Dreams and Flames Connections
The immediate focus for Parekh and Team Canada is a semifinal victory over Czechia. The winner will advance to Monday's championship game in St. Paul, Minnesota, to face the victor of the Sweden-Finland semifinal. The losers will compete for bronze.
Beyond the Canadian record, Parekh is also within reach of the overall tournament record for points by a defenceman, set by Sweden's Peter Andersson with 14 points in 1985. Interestingly, there's a direct Flames link to that record, as Peter's son, Rasmus Andersson, is currently a top defenceman for Calgary. Rasmus, recently named to Sweden's 2026 Olympic roster, joked about his divided loyalties.
"As I told (Parekh) before he left, I hope they finish second," Andersson said with a grin. "Obviously, I'm very Swedish in my bones so I hope Sweden wins. And I've lived in Canada long enough, I hope they finish second. But you know, Zayne is a great player and he has a really bright future ahead of him."
Another Flames prospect, forward Cole Reschny, has also made key contributions for Canada. The 18-year-old centre, a first-round pick in 2025, has opened the scoring twice in the tournament, including in the quarterfinal against Slovakia. He has two goals, one assist, and has been dominant on faceoffs, winning 66 percent of his draws.
For Zayne Parekh, the next few days represent a chance to cement his name in World Junior history and bring home a gold medal for Canada, all while proving he is ready to be a major factor for the Calgary Flames upon his return.
