The Calgary Flames&#8217; top prospect will be getting a chance to challenge himself in a pretty unique environment this spring, per a report on social media from TSN&#8217;s Darren Dreger. According to Dreger, defensive prospect Zayne Parekh will be joining Team Canada for some pre-tournament games leading up to the IIHF World Championship.
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Hearing Zayne Parekh and Porter Martone will be joining Team Canada for at least some exhibition games for Men’s Worlds. Both eligible for World Junior selection next year, so a nice bridge between programs.
&mdash; Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1914015480790278551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Canada is slated to play a pair of pre-tournament games: on May 4 in Vienna against Austria and on May 6 in Budapest against Hungary. <a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/04/19/rasmus-andersson-mackenzie-weegar-among-four-flames-set-to-represent-respective-nations-at-upcoming-world-championships/">The tournament itself is being hosted in Stockholm, Sweden and Herring, Denmark from May 9-25</a>.
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Sounds like Zayne Parekh will indeed be getting some pre-tournament games for Canada at the World Championship. First from <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarrenDreger</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> feel like it’s a great opportunity for Parekh to help prepare for next season. Part of the reason he’s not joining the AHL Wranglers.
&mdash; Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg/status/1914022271947248014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/04/20/flames-top-prospect-zayne-parekh-isnt-joining-the-wranglers-so-he-can-optimize-his-off-season/">As explained during Saturday&#8217;s exit meetings</a>, Parekh isn&#8217;t joining the Wranglers for the remainder of their season so that he can actually have a full summer of training and recuperation after two full years of frenzied hockey. Now, if you&#8217;re asking yourself &#8220;Hey, how is this any different from joining the Wranglers?&#8221; Well, this is two games, and it&#8217;s two games in a situation where Parekh is joining a group of guys that haven&#8217;t played together very much – if at all – and potentially playing two national teams that are, if we&#8217;re being blunt here, probably not as good as the AHL&#8217;s Coachella Valley Firebirds or Ontario Reign.
So if the idea is to give Parekh a bit of a development opportunity while maintaining the philosophy of getting him so downtime and some training time, giving him a chance to suit up for the IIHF World Championship pre-tournament games makes a lot of sense.
The ninth overall pick by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, Parekh is coming off a spectacular season with the Ontario Hockey League&#8217;s Saginaw Spirit, where he scored 33 goals and 107 points. He&#8217;s doing the types of things offensively that few have ever done in the OHL, and so the Flames are seemingly trying to find challenging situations for him to help him build towards training camp in the fall without necessarily throwing him right into the deep end.
<h1>This article is presented by Bon Ton Meat Market</h1>
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The Calgary Flames' top prospect will be getting a chance to challenge himself in a pretty unique environment this spring, per a report on social media from TSN's Darren Dreger. According to Dreger, defensive prospect Zayne Parekh will be joining Team Canada for some pre-tournament games leading up to the IIHF World Championship.

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1914015480790278551

Canada is slated to play a pair of pre-tournament games: on May 4 in Vienna against Austria and on May 6 in Budapest against Hungary. <a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/04/19/rasmus-andersson-mackenzie-weegar-among-four-flames-set-to-represent-respective-nations-at-upcoming-world-championships/">The tournament itself is being hosted in Stockholm, Sweden and Herring, Denmark from May 9-25</a>.

https://twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg/status/1914022271947248014

<a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/04/20/flames-top-prospect-zayne-parekh-isnt-joining-the-wranglers-so-he-can-optimize-his-off-season/">As explained during Saturday's exit meetings</a>, Parekh isn't joining the Wranglers for the remainder of their season so that he can actually have a full summer of training and recuperation after two full years of frenzied hockey. Now, if you're asking yourself "Hey, how is this any different from joining the Wranglers?" Well, this is two games, and it's two games in a situation where Parekh is joining a group of guys that haven't played together very much – if at all – and potentially playing two national teams that are, if we're being blunt here, probably not as good as the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds or Ontario Reign.

So if the idea is to give Parekh a bit of a development opportunity while maintaining the philosophy of getting him so downtime and some training time, giving him a chance to suit up for the IIHF World Championship pre-tournament games makes a lot of sense.

The ninth overall pick by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, Parekh is coming off a spectacular season with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit, where he scored 33 goals and 107 points. He's doing the types of things offensively that few have ever done in the OHL, and so the Flames are seemingly trying to find challenging situations for him to help him build towards training camp in the fall without necessarily throwing him right into the deep end.
<h1>This article is presented by Bon Ton Meat Market</h1>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-138373 size-medium" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/Bon-Ton-Logo-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" />
A Tradition of quality products and personalized service for 104 years.
Proud to feature only the finest premium AAA Alberta Beef, Locally raised fresh pork, locally raised fresh free range chicken and turkey, fresh alberta lamb and milk fed veal.
Over 20 varieties of in store made salads,  delicious desserts and of course our famous in store made meat pies. Proud to be Calgary, and Southern Alberta's Consumers Choice Award Winner for best Meat and Deli for 24 consecutive years! Bon Ton Meat Market, 28 Crowfoot Circle NW.

Zayne Parekh to play for Team Canada in IIHF Worlds pre-tournament games: Dreger

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