The Calgary Flames might just have a future star on their hands in Zayne Parekh.

The 19-year-old made history with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit on Sunday afternoon, scoring his 30th goal of the 2024-25 season midway to become the first defenceman in league history to reach that mark multiple times.

Parekh scored Saginaw’s eighth goal in their 8-3 win over the North Bay Battalion, banking the puck off goaltender Jack Lisson from below the goal line with 7:20 remaining in regulation time.

Not only is Parekh the first and only defenceman in OHL history to score 30 goals in multiple seasons, but he’s also the first to do it in back-to-back years. The last defender to reach that mark multiple times played for the Oshawa Generals in the OHA, the OHL’s precursor — and his name was Bobby Orr.

Parekh also recorded three assists for Saginaw on Sunday, bringing his point total on the year to 96 through 55 games. It took Parekh 66 games to score 96 points last season. With four more points, he can tie Ryan Ellis for the most by an OHL defender in the 21st century.

The Flames originally selected Parekh with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6’0″, 185-pound righty won the Memorial Cup with the Spirit in 2024 and was named the No. 5 North American skater available in 2024 by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service.

After a slower start to the 2024-25 season, Parekh has been lights-out in all areas of the ice since being left off Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Nobleton, Ontario product now has 50 points in his last 20 games this season.

Parekh attended Flames development camp with his older brother, Isa, last summer, and the Flames signed him to an entry-level contract during the sessions at WinSport. Owing to his status as a 2006-born player, the younger Parekh will only be eligible to play in the NHL or the OHL next season.

The Spirit clinched their berth in the 2025 OHL playoffs on Friday after a 7-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves. They currently occupy fourth place in the Western Conference with a 34-23-3 record and 71 points through 60 games.

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