Calgary Flames fans must get excited just thinking about it.
Just imagine. It’s a few years down the road and you’ve got Zayne Parekh and Henry Mews as the anchors of the team’s blueline, both driving offence from the back-end and locking down opponents in front of Dustin Wolf in their own zone.
That sounds fun, right?
For Parekh and Mews, it sure does.
“We’ve been buddies since minor-midget,” Parekh told Postmedia. “Me and him have always clicked and we’re always messing around. You never want us two rooming together, because you know nothing good is going to come out of that.”
Neither Parekh or Mews is entirely sure when they first met, but Mews guesses that the two 2024 draft picks first crossed paths when they were between eight and 10-years-old at one of the many tournaments they played against one another.
It was back in 2021-22 that they became better-acquainted, though. Mews had moved to Toronto to play U16 AAA with the Jr. Canadiens, while Parekh was with the Markham Majors.
Their friendship continued during their early-years in the OHL, with Parekh emerging as a potential NHL lottery pick with the Saginaw Spirit and Mews building his game with the Ottawa 67’s.
It all led to draft day last year. Both guys had every reason to be confident they’d get picked.
By the same team, though? They didn’t see that one coming.
“We’ve been friends on-and-off the ice and it’s pretty crazy, we had no idea,” Mews explained. “You’d think we’re two pretty similar players, so we had no idea we’d be picked by the same team.
We were really happy to be able to spend time together at development camp and main camp and we have Facetime calls throughout the year to see how it’s going.
“We’re really tight. We were tight before we got drafted and even tighter now than before.”
After attending training camp in the fall, both Parekh and Mews returned to their junior teams for another year of seasoning in the OHL.
Parekh, who was selected in the first round, ninth overall, by the Flames, has obviously had a lot of eyeballs on him. He’s been living up to the hype, too. After a slower start – by his own high standards – he’s caught up to the pack of high-scoring defencemen around the Canadian junior circuit. He was named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Month in January and heading into Thursday’s action was leading all CHL defencemen with 71 points.
The Portland Winterhawks’ Tyson Jugnauth was second, with 69, but Mews is right behind him. After being selected by the Flames in the third round, 74th overall last year, the 18-year-old has elevated his game and is looking like a draft day steal. He was traded at mid-season by the 67’s to the Sudbury Wolves as his new team tried to level-up for a playoff run, and between the two teams he’s put up 13 goals and 54 assists – only four points behind Parekh.
Comparing the two is inevitable, and with Hunter Brzustewicz also in the Flames’ prospect pool there’s no question the organization has a lot of offensively talented blueliners on the come-up.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
“They’re similar players. Zayne is a little more dynamic in terms of those high, flashy skills,” said Flames director of player development Ray Edwards. “Henry moves the pucks, he can block it from the point, he’s really good on the power-play, but Henry’s not necessarily toe-dragging it and 10-and-2. Zayne will go all around the offensive zone and hang on to the puck, Henry is less flashy, if you will.”
Both Mews and Parekh downplay their numbers these days. The Flames wanted them focusing on the defensive side of their games this season and they believe that will be what helps them make a smooth transition when it comes time to make the jump to the pros.
The offensive numbers don’t lie, though. Both guys have been producing offensively at an eye-popping rate.
They’re putting up elite points totals, and there’s a very good chance one or the other will lead the CHL in scoring by a defenceman this season.
If there’s any competition between them, though, it’s purely friendly.
“He’s been on a tear recently, he kind of took over so I’m trying to catch him,” Mews said. “I’m happy for him and he’s happy for me and we’re both having great years. That’s all that matters, we’re focused on our development and we’re looking forward to seeing each other at camp.
“That’s all that matters, we’re great friends and it’s friendly competition. It’s good to be able to push each other and it’s only going to make both of us better.”
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