Zayne Parekh

Zayne Parekh was born in Nobleton, Ontario in Canada. 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. In his first full OHL season in 2022-2023, Parekh recorded 21 goals and 37 points in 50 games, breaking the record for most goals by a 16-year-old defenseman. He was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team. The 2023-2024 season saw Parekh set records as he continued to improve his overall game. 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 finished the season with 33 goals and 96 points, becoming only the second defenseman in league history to score at least 30 goals in their first season on NHL draft eligibility . He received the Max Kaminsky Trophy as OHL defenseman of the year, and finished 2nd in the MVP voting.