Zayne Parekh lived a strange week earlier this month.
The Calgary Flames prospect was crushed after being left off Canada’s list of selection camp hopefuls for the upcoming world junior hockey championship.
A chance to pull on the red Maple Leaf was a dream. At age 18, there would still be next year. Not seeing his name alongside the rest of the country’s marquee under-20 talent still stung.
Some five days later, however, the defenceman from Nobleton, Ont., selected ninth overall at June’s NHL draft, was making travel plans for the nation’s capital — handed an unexpected lifeline that kept his tournament quest alive.
“A lot of motivation came from finding out that I wasn’t on the team,” said Parekh, who replaced the injured Harrison Brunicke last Friday. “A bit devastated because every kid wants to represent their country on the highest stage.
“Glad I got a second opportunity.”
Oshawa Generals winger Beckett Sennecke, meanwhile, waited until Monday for his tap on the shoulder with …