OHL Saginaw Spirit

Parekh Hits 30 in OT, Downs Brantford Again

March 1, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Zayne Parekh on game night
Saginaw Spirit's Zayne Parekh on game night
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Josh Sweetland)

Brantford, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (42-15-0-1) took down the Brantford Bulldogs (32-17-7-2) by a score of 4-3 in overtime for the second time in as many meetings. Owen Beck scored his 30th of the season, Calem Mangone netted his 18th, and Zayne Parekh collected three points (2G, 1A), including the OT winner for the second game in a row. Matteo Drobac started for the Bulldogs, snatching 37 of 41 shots, while Andrew Oke returned for Saginaw, grabbing 18 saves on 21 shots.

Parekh's goal made him just the 19th defenseman in OHL history to hit 30 goals, and only the second to do it during his draft-eligible season.

Saginaw and Brantford opened the game with constant back-and-forth play, with both teams getting a few chances. At 9:21 into the first, Brantford's Florian Xhekaj and Saginaw's Rodwin Dionicio received offsetting roughing minors, with Zayne Parekh also receiving a minor slashing penalty, setting up a Bulldogs' powerplay.

Brantford could not capitalize on their first powerplay and gave Saginaw two powerplays in the back half of the period with a tripping call on Patrick Thomas and a delay of game call against Jake O'Brien.

At the end of the first, both teams remained deadlocked at zero, with Saginaw outshooting Brantford 15 to 6.

After another delay of game penalty by Brantford, Saginaw was set up on their third powerplay. Following the ensuing faceoff, Calem Mangone controlled the puck at the right circle. After having his shot blocked, Mangone regathered the puck and passed it down to the goal line extended, finding Josh Bloom. The Vancouver prospect fought off the defender and pushed the puck to the left circle. Owen Beck skated in to meet the puck, settled the biscuit, and fired a shot over the blocker of Bulldogs' goaltender Matteo Drobac and into the top left corner of the net. Beck's 30th of the year gave the Spirit a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs were not down long as Brantford scored their first of the game at 6:35 into the period. Niko Krmpotic began the play by sending the puck around the boards behind the Saginaw goal. Patrick Thomas approached the puck and worked to keep possession for the Bulldogs. Before being knocked to the ice, Thomas pushed the puck to Xhekaj, who turned and fired a shot just between the blocker and right pad of Saginaw goaltender Andrew Oke to tie the game at 1-1.

Brantford took the lead at 11:15 into the second, with a Zak Lavoie shot beating Andrew Oke to the stick hand side.

At the end of the second period, Saginaw trailed 2-1 despite outshooting Brantford 26 to 14 overall.

Marek Vanacker extended the Brantford lead after picking up a missed Saginaw pass in the neutral zone. Vanacker raced into the Saginaw zone, fought off the back-checking Saginaw defense, and lifted a backhanded over Andrew Oke on a shorthanded tally for the 3-1 lead.

Saginaw got back to within one at 9:43 into the third period. Off a shot by Zayne Parekh, returning forward Calem Mangone tipped the shot as it headed toward the net. The puck ricocheted off Mangone's stick, off a Brantford defender in the slot, and drifted past goaltender Matteo Drobac for the Saginaw winger's 18th of the season to close the gap to one.

5:03 later, Rodwin Dionicio dumped the puck in behind the Brantford net, where Hunter Haight skated to meet the puck. After fighting off the Bulldogs' defender, Haight moved the puck to the blueline, finding Zayne Parekh. The draft-eligible defensemen received the pass and looked to send a shot on net. The puck flew, pinballing off defenders, sticks, skates and eventually zigzagged its way into the Brantford net for Parekh's 29th of the season and a tie game.

At the end of regulation, Saginaw and Brantford remained knotted at three apiece, headed to their second overtime in as many matchups.

Much like Saginaw and Brantford's last matchup, Matyas Sapovaliv gathered the puck in the left corner in the Spirit zone and flipped the puck of the side glass, landing in front of Zayne Parekh. On the two-on-one opportunity, Parekh looked off Michael Misa and fired a shot past the blocker of Drobac for his 30th of the season, second OT winner in as many games, and a 4-3 Spirit win.

Saginaw's next game is Saturday, March 2nd where they will face the Owen Sound Attack at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre with a 7:00 PM puck drop.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Zayne Parekh on game night
Saginaw Spirit's Zayne Parekh on game night
(Josh Sweetland)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2024


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