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Zayne Parekh returns to game action this weekend on Wranglers conditioning loan
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Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Paige Siewert
Jan 18, 2026, 09:30 ESTUpdated: Jan 17, 2026, 22:27 EST
Zayne Parekh is set to play his first hockey games in 2026 with the Calgary Flames organization. On Saturday, the Flames announced he would be loaned to the Calgary Wranglers on a conditioning assignment. Parekh suffered an upper body injury in the bronze medal game for Canada in the World Juniors and needed some time to recover before returning to the Flames. 
Parekh joined the Wranglers for practice at WinSport on Saturday and practised alongside veteran defenceman, Nick Cicek. Cicek has been the guy to mould the prospects this year as he skated the first month with Hunter Brzustewicz as well as Etienne Morin and Jeremie Poirier since then. Parekh will be his latest “project” to help push him to a pace to be NHL ready. 
Head Coach Brett Sutter spoke on this role for Cicek saying:
“He’s a really good communicator. 
He’s going to be able to help with all those little details and areas in the game. If Zayne has any questions in game or on the bench. It’s nice you have a left shot and a right shot and and Cheech has the ability to play both sides, but I still think he’s better on his left side and the message to him was communicate, get the kid the puck, and be a good partner for him.”
Parekh’s personal evaluation after getting some time with the team was all positive. He had fun and has received a warm welcome. He’s even gotten a few evenings with his Wranglers teammates to get to know the group a bit better. Going into this limited time in the AHL Parekh spoke on his areas of focus. 
He said:
“Just get my timing back, keep improving on things. It’s not going to be the longest time because I only have, you know, a maximum amount of time here, but we just got to kind of work on my game and continue to get better.”
Zayne was honest about how he started his season with Calgary and realizes there’s another level he’d like to be at with the Flames after his success at the World Juniors.  
He said:
“It was a rough start to the season. It’s been a hard, messed up a year for me, but to go there and put up some points and play well. It was kind of a weight lifted off my shoulders a little bit.”
Parekh continued:
“They really believe in me here, so you know, obviously it means a lot to me. Obviously, I had my 10th game back in November, but you know still the option and I’m really fortunate to be up here and really grateful.”
Zayne Parekh’s regular jersey number (19) is currently in use by Wranglers captain Clark Bishop. Parekh didn’t mind switching up numbers for this stretch but wasn’t left with many options. He will wear number 39 for this stretch with the Wranglers. This number was last worn by defenceman Charles Martin last season and Matt Coronato before that. 
Parekh said with a chuckle:
“I wish they picked a better number. I didn’t put too much thought into it. So you know, I’m good with 39.”
Before missing time for injury related reasons, Parekh played in 11 games with the Flames this season and registered one assist in that time. His last game in the NHL was on Nov. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He most recently contributed to Canada’s bronze medal finish at the World Juniors and had a record breaking 13 points (6G, 7A) in the tournament. The Flames weren’t taking any chances with their young defenceman  and exercised caution after the World Juniors. 
Parekh spoke on his time since the tournament and said:
“I kind of got some time to settle down and relax and just kind of rehab my shoulder a little bit and I’m feeling good.”
Parekh confirmed his shoulder is good to go and he is set to play his first professional game since November with the Wranglers against the Edmonton Oilers affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on Sunday afternoon. 

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