Canadian Hockey Dads

 

Every Canadian Father Wants the Same Thing  

to see their son playing in the NHL, and it doesn't matter which team.

Prologue:

The statement above is accurate for many Canadian fathers. "If only my son would be good enough to play in the NHL."

In the 1960s, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat writer for Canada's National Newspaper, The Globe and Mail, was Hockey Hall of Fame writer Scott Young. Young was the premier hockey writer of the day and covered the Leafs as they earned four Stanley Cups in the decade, and produced several novels related to the game. He once wrote a column in the newspaper about how he wished his son would one day become a Leaf. His write-up discussed his disappointment when the lad never became a player.

However, the end of the article uncovers the real story about his son, as Scott said, "I walked down Church Street to enter the main doors of Maple Leaf Gardens to see my son perform ... The Gardens marquee announced TONIGHT 8 PM NEIL YOUNG!"

Scott and his Rockstar son, Neil

The real story that I've concocted will start shortly.

But I need to tell you about Azim. He's a Canadian/Indian father who didn't want to see his son on a soccer pitch or cricket field; he wanted to see him in the NHL ... and he got his wish. 

In the 2025/26 NHL season (I know it's the Flames, but stay with me), you'll have to keep your eye on this kid.

Zayne Parekh was drafted 9th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1st. round. He played for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHA and was selected Defenceman of the Year, and shares a point-scoring Junior Hockey record with another defenceman, Bobby Orr.

And, in addition to a very high hockey IQ, he has the other IQ as well, completing high school as a 16-year-old.

Zayne ... watch his edges! 

To say a very loud "thank you" to his parents for their support, he scored his first NHL goal as a last-minute addition to the lineup in the final 2025 season game for the Flames on April 17/25.

3 others who've already made their mark ... 

It was about 15 years ago. I was playing in a 50+ old-timer game in Mississauga. One of our players was, like the rest of us, a grandpa, a little overweight, and a little slow. But, this guy had soft hands, could handle the puck easily and could dish some nice sauce -- he was just the guy you'd want to have on your team. He was also a retired cop.

One day, he showed up at the rink with his 3 grandsons. I'm not good at ages, but I'd put one at 7, another at 9, and the big guy at 11. "Granpa" had offered to babysit.

The three boys bounced into the room full of energy, not paying much attention to dressing room decorum. They dove into player bags, retrieved elbow pads, helmets, and gloves, and started beating each other with zero regard for each other's safety. They went on for quite a while, like barking dogs. 

I'll call them all mayhem ... like the Allstate commercial.

Finally, "Granpa" shouted STOP!

He told them to return the equipment to their bags, go up to the stands, and watch our game.

The three boys became the STROME brothers who, today, all play in the NHL. How crazy is that? Three grandsons in the NHL -- I'd be broke! I would have to be at every game, no matter where or when they played.

(I wonder if Granpa's soft hockey hands were part of the DNA that he passed on to the boys)

It's been an interesting ride for one of the Stromes, and if you're interested, you can click on his Player's Tribute below.

For Washington | By Dylan Strometheplayerstribune.com