Zayne Parekh’s renaissance tour continues…

The 19-year-old has been superb throughout the World Junior Championship, and his dynamic offensive ability was front and centre in Team Canada’s final round-robin game against Finland on New Year’s Eve. Parekh was a major contributor in his squad’s 7-4 victory over the Fins. He found the back of the net 1:13 into the game, and later added two assists, including a beautiful 100-foot stretch pass to Tij Iginla.

In topping Finland, Canada won Group B and received a favourable quarter-final matchup against the struggling Slovaks.

Parekh’s third multi-point effort put him at four goals and four assists in four games; he rounded out preliminary play with more goals and points than any other defenceman. He’s currently tied for first in tournament scoring alongside Slovakian centreman Tomas Chrenko, and Canadian forwards Gavin McKenna and Michael Hage.

His eight points in the preliminary round were the most by a Canadian defenceman since Ryan Ellis in 2011. Similarly, in 2025, he became the first OHL defenceman to reach 100 points since Ellis did in 2011.

His dominance thus far at the tournament is reminiscent of his extraordinary junior career, and even more impressive considering the elevated competition. Fans who have only seen Parekh play at the NHL level are now getting a glimpse of the mind-boggling talent that made him the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

His elite passing, in combination with a deceptive and wickedly accurate wrist shot have been on full display in each game and has made the Nobleton, Ontario native one of Canada’s best players.

With a maximum of three games left to play, the tournament MVP award is Parekh’s to lose. That said, the most important games lie ahead, and past winners of the award almost always put forth a signature performance in a do-or-die game.

Sportsbooks generally don’t assign odds in the tournament MVP race, but Parekh would certainly have the shortest odds in my book, as a blueliner who’s filled the statsheet almost every night.

If he can stay in the mix of scoring leaders, it would be hard not to give it to him, given that Canada — the current odds-on favourite to win gold — can at least reach the podium.

The only defenceman to ever win MVP at the World Juniors was Thomas Chabot back in 2017. The Canadian defenceman had 10 points — including a goal and an assist in the gold medal game — and led the tournament in ice time at 26:14 per contest. Though he hasn’t been a minute munching d-man, averaging 20:15 a night (largely due to Canada’s balanced approach), Parekh is already just two points shy of Chabot’s mark, and is likely a clutch performance or two away from having a serious case for the award.

The last Canadian to win tournament MVP was Connor Bedard in 2023.

Though I’m sure he’s more focused on claiming gold as opposed to individual accolades, being named MVP would be the ultimate cherry on top of what has already been a wildly successful tournament for Parekh.

Canada continues their redemption tour on Friday night with their quarterfinal tilt versus Slovakia at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

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