Unclear details of a recent alleged fan incident had some questioning a potential Zayne Parekh OHL suspension, but the story seems overblown.
A strange story surfaced this week regarding the Calgary Flames' 2024 first-round pick, Zayne Parekh. Reports surfaced Thursday that after delivering a questionable hit in a game, Parekh was involved in a controversial altercation with a fan during an OHL game between the Soo Greyhounds and Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday night.
Fortunately, it appears those reports were blown out of proportion, if not completely unsubstantiated.
-"When it comes to Zayne Parekh and the reported incident of an interaction with a fan postgame, the #OHL has found no conclusive evidence and there is no punishment expected for Parekh from the league. The Flames prospect looks to be in the clear.
Parekh, known for his intense style of play, was ejected late in the third period after delivering a somewhat ugly hit on Owen Allard, who was in a vulnerable position against the boards. Allard was able to get back up quickly, but Parekh’s hit was viewed as reckless.
According to a fan report and an article that appears to have been based on confused second-hand accounts, as Parekh exited the rink, he allegedly went into the stands and struck a fan with his stick. It was online speculation that ramped up the rumors, but neither the player nor the Flames organization had confirmed the claims.
One X.com user wrote:
-From my vantage point , directly across from the tunnel, I saw the interaction with the fan BUT cannot say if I saw any contact actually being made! That’s some 150 feet or so, just too difficult to say with any certainty.
It's not clear what took place, but it seems something happened in that game following the hit. Parekh has built a reputation as a gritty, high-energy player who often gets under opponents' skin. He may have ruffled feathers and things got slightly out of hand. That said, it doesn't sound like any supplemental discipline is coming.
It remains to be seen if this recent incident will be forgotten about in a couple of days or if it could cast a bit of a shadow over his development.