Flames prospect Zayne Parekh to replace Harrison Brunicke at Canada’s World Juniors camp

Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh will be attending Hockey Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp after all.

Following his surprise omission from the original invite list, the budding blue-liner from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit was added to the camp roster Friday in place of injured Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.

Selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, Parekh is the reigning CHL Defenseman of the Year who wrapped up last season with 96 points counting 33 goals and 63 assists coming in 66 contests. Parekh’s offensive dominance then continued in the postseason, where he added another 11 points in 13 outings before helping the Spirit later claim the franchise’s first Memorial Cup championship.

Among his other accolades, the 18-year-old Markham, Ont., native helped Canada to a gold-medal finish at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he registered three points in five games. Parekh has also played on the international stage with Canada Black at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he finished with three goals and two assists for five points in seven appearances.

With the Spirit this season, Parekh has continued to flash his scoring touch as he has tallied eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in only 23 outings.

For Brunicke, the 18-year-old Calgary, Alta., native has been sidelined with an injury since mid-November. In all, he has made 15 appearances on the season, in which he has picked up three goals and nine assists for 12 points. Chosen 44th overall by the Penguins in the 2024 NHL Draft, Brunicke posted 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 49 games with the Blazers last season.

Brunicke previously represented Canada at the 2024 Under-18 World Championship, putting up one goal and three assists for four points in seven games to help the Great White North claim the gold medal.