Zayne Parekh gets call from Team Canada for World Juniors training camp

The Flames' Zayne Parekh didn't make Team Canada's World Juniors roster last year. This year, he'll have another shot.

Zayne Parekh didn’t make Team Canada’s World Juniors roster last year.

It was a huge disappointment for the young defenceman.

This year, Parekh will have another shot at cracking the roster and hopefully play a big role on the team.

He’s invited to Team Canada’s training camp in Niagara Falls prior to the World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Parekh says he’s excited.

“Every time you put that jersey on, you feel a sense of pride,” he said.

“It’s a special feeling putting it on, and it’s a tournament I’ve watched growing up every Christmastime, so being able to represent Canada and finally get my chance in that tournament, it will be fun.”

Finding his game

Parekh is on the injured list right now after suffering an upper-body injury on Nov. 7 when he took a hit from Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno into the boards.

Parekh is the first to admit he hasn’t had a great start to his first NHL season, and he’s hoping the World Juniors can help spark his game.

“I think it will be good to go and build some confidence, play my game and have fun,” he said.

“I’m going to get a lot of leash there and be able to make plays and kind of do my thing, so I should be coming back with hopefully a lot of confidence.”

MacKenzie Weegar was paired with Parekh for parts of the season.

Weegar thinks playing at the World Juniors is exactly what the 19-year-old needs right now.

“He’s going to go back and play with some kids his age,” he said.

“I know his best buddy, (Michael) Misa, is going to be there, and he can just be the big dog around there and have some fun.

“I’ll be tuning in that whole time, watching him now that he’s out there. I’m happy for him, and I think he’s going to come back and have that confidence and swagger.”

That’s exactly what head coach Ryan Huska is hoping for.

“My hope is that he goes and has an excellent camp, so he earns a spot on the team,” he said.

“Then, he has a terrific tournament from there, and he comes back with some swagger and he steps right in and is ready to go again for us.”

Parekh isn’t the only Flames draftee to get an invite to training camp.

Eighteen-year-old Cole Reschny, who is playing at the University of North Dakota, will also have a chance to make the team.