Zayne Parekh out for remainder of World Junior Summer Showcase

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Zayne Parekh won’t be participating in the rest of the World Junior Summer Showcase.

The Calgary Flames’ prized prospect will skip the rest of Team Canada’s mid-summer camp for precautionary reasons related to a lower-body injury.

The Flames announced Tuesday afternoon that he’d already returned to Calgary to follow up with the team’s medical staff but is expected to be a full participant at training camp when it starts in September.

“It’d be awesome, hopefully I’m playing in Calgary around that time,” Parekh told TSN on Monday when asked about playing for Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championships in December. “I guess my future is a little up in the air right now, but my goal is to play in Calgary for the whole year.

“As weird as it sounds, best case scenario is I might not be playing in the tournament if I’m fortunate enough to be selected, but any time you can wear that Maple Leaf, it’s an honour.”

Parekh, selected ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, is widely expected to be with the Flames and playing NHL minutes next season. He’s too young to play for the Wranglers in the AHL and after leading the CHL in defensive scoring last season, there’s little good that can be done for his development if he were to return to the OHL for another year with the Saginaw Spirit.

The Flames will still be well-represented at the Summer Showcase, though, as 2025 first-round pick Cole Reschny will be playing for Canada alongside 2024 third-rounder Henry Mews, while fellow 2025 first-rounder Cullen Potter will be representing the U.S.

daustin@postmedia.com

X: @DannyAustin_9