2024 1st Round Projected Prospect Zayne Parekh after 3-2 win against the IceDogs on Saturday night.
2024 Draft eligible defender Zayne Parekh scored a goal on Saturday night to help lift the Spirit over the IceDogs in a 3-2 final.
Not the best on-ice performance by the Spirit, but they were able to get the win. "Two points is two points, a couple things to clean up but we won so we can't complain," said Parekh post-game.
Nineteen games into the season, Parekh is tied for the team lead in points, and 4th overall among defencemen in the league. He has 7 goals and 23 points, including his goal against the IceDogs on Saturday.
Since his 21-goal rookie season, Parekh has been highly regarded for the 2024 NHL Draft. "My coaches put trust in me, my General Manager really believed in me [last season]" said Parekh when asked about his ability to jump into the OHL and make an impact.
Parekh has made improvements over this past off-season to allow him to come in this season and play a better all-round game. His defensive stick has improved significantly, and he is getting caught less often on the backcheck.
"Just staying quick and working on the little things, especially defensively."
He has found a lot of success this season thus far as Saginaw's go-to defender in all situations. "I'm just playing the same way I have been, and just trying to defend hard, and obviously my teammates are helping me out because they're scoring for me," Parekh said with a smile.
Saginaw is preparing to host the Memorial Cup next spring, and have made a lot of on-ice additions over the past few weeks.
"We try not to think about the Memorial Cup, obviously it's a big thing and you dream of playing in those in your junior career, but we want to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and start there."
Zayne Parekh will be a big name to watch out for at the 2024 NHL Draft, as the offensive catalyst from the blue line won't have to wait long to hear his name called. Currently, Parekh and Sam Dickinson (London Knights) are the top two defenders to keep an eye on from the OHL ahead of next year's draft.