Parekh lands on the first All-Star team 2023-24 presented by CCM

June 2, 2024 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Press release from Saginaw Spirit

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today announced its first, second and third All-Star teams for the 2023–24 season, as well as its All-Rookie team – all presented by CCM.

The CHL All-Star and All-Rookie teams were selected by NHL Central Scouting based on regular season games, as well as All-Star selections and award winners from the CHL's three member leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

CHL First All-Star Team presented by CCM

Goaltender – William Rousseau (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies / QMJHL): 34-10-1-4 record, 2.24 GAA, .924 SV% & 8 SO in 50 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2023-24 CHL Goaltender of the Year set a new QMJHL single-season record by recording eight shutouts this season.

Defenseman – Denton Mateychuk (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL): 17 goals, 58 assists, 75 points, +35 in 52 games during the 2023-24 season; the Columbus Blue Jackets rookie averaged 1.44 points per game, making him the WHL's top defenseman, while ranking third in the same group with 75 points.

Defenseman – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 33 goals, 63 assists, 96 points, +39 in 66 games during the 2023-24 season; one of only two CHL defensemen in the last 20 years to score over 95 points in a single season, the 2023-24 CHL Defenseman of the Year and 2024 NHL Draft prospect led all defensemen in the CHL in points (96) and goals (33) this season.

Forward – Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL): 61 goals, 65 assists, 126 points, +31 in 63 games in 2023-24. The 2023-24 David Branch Player of the Year and Seattle Kraken nominee was the CHL's leading scorer with 126 points and the only player in the CHL to score over 60 goals and over 60 assists last season.

Forward – Easton Cowan (London Knights / OHL): 34 goals, 62 assists, 96 points, +38 in 54 games during the 2023-24 season; the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie scored at least one point in 49 of 54 games and posted 33 multi-point performances over the course of the season.

Forward – Zac Funk (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 67 goals, 56 assists, 123 points, +56 in 68 games in 2023-24; the Washington Capitals rookie finished the season as the CHL's leading scorer with 67 goals, becoming only the 10th CHL player since 2000 to score over 65 goals in a single season.

CHL Second All-Star Team presented by CCM

Goaltender – Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals / OHL): 35-16-7-1 record, 2.82 GAA, .905 SV% & 3 SO in 60 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect led the CHL with 35 wins during the 2023-24 season while setting a new Oshawa record with 3,569 minutes played in a single season.

Defenseman – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 13 goals, 79 assists, 92 points, +31 in 67 games in 2023-24; the Calgary Flames rookie tied Jason Gladney (1993-94) for the record for most points by a defenseman in a single season with the Kitchener Rangers (92).

Defenseman – Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary Hitmen / WHL): 30 goals, 41 assists, 71 points, -6 in 66 games in 2023-24. The 2024 NHL Draft prospect has scored 30 goals this season, a WHL record. He is the first WHL defenseman to score 30 goals in a season since Ian White accomplished the feat 22 years ago.

Forward – Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion / OHL): 58G-53A, 111 PTS, +43 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; scored 58 goals, leading the OHL, while ranking second in the OHL with 111 points.

Forward – Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / WHL): 54G-62A, 116 PTS, +15 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL draft prospect's 116 points, 56 goals and 1.71 points per game average were the best of any draft-eligible skater in the CHL during the 2023-24 season

Forward – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves / OHL): 40 goals, 77 assists, 117 points, +20 in 68 games in the 2023/24 season; the Seattle Kraken junior player posted the best performance in the OHL with 117 points and thus the highest point total by a Sudbury Wolves player since Norm Milley in the 1998/99 season with 120 points.

CHL Third All-Star Team presented by CCM

Goaltender – Harrison Meneghin (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL): 27-20-5-0 record, 2.59 GAA, .919 SV% & 3 SO in 53 games during the 2023-24 season; ranks among the WHL's leaders in several different categories, including save percentage (.919, second), shutouts (3, T-4th), minutes played (3,040, fourth) and saves (1,483, fifth)

Defenseman – Vsevolod Komarov (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL): 14 goals, 55 assists, 69 points, +47 in 61 games during the 2023-24 season; the Buffalo Sabres rookie finished the season with 55 assists and 69 points, both the best of any defenseman in the QMJHL.

Defenseman – Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks / WHL): 18 goals, 72 assists, 90 points, +47 in 65 games during the 2023-24 season; the San Jose Sharks rookie became the first WHL defenseman to score 90 points in the last 30 years.

Forward – Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 34 goals, 63 assists, 97 points, -4 in 61 games in 2023-24; along with Connor Bedard, the 2026 NHL Draft prospect is one of only two 16-year-old players in the WHL to score over 90 points in a single season in the last 25 years.

Forward – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 52 goals, 43 assists, 95 points, +23 in 60 games in 2023-24; the Seattle Kraken rookie scored 16 power-play goals, the most in the OHL this season, while finishing second in the OHL with 52 goals.

Forward – Mathieu Cataford (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL): 40 goals and 50 assists, 90 points, +43 in 65 games during the 2023-24 season; the Vegas Golden Knights rookie was one of only two players in the QMJHL to score over 40 goals and over 50 assists this season.

CHL All-Rookie Team presented by CCM

Goaltender – Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL): 23-21-6-3 record, 3.30 GAA, .907 SV% & 4 SO in 56 games during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect led the CHL in saves (1744) and shots on goal (1923) last season, while this season's 23 wins were the most by a rookie goaltender in Attack franchise history.

Defenseman – Tarin Smith (Everett Silvertips / WHL): 8G-36A, 44 PTS, +26 in 67 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft candidate led all rookie defensemen in the CHL with 44 points this season.

Defenseman – Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL): 8G-35A, 43 PTS, -10 in 54 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2026 NHL Draft candidate ranked second among rookie defensemen in the CHL in both points (43 points) and goals (8)

Forward – Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 34 goals, 63 assists, 97 points, -4 in 61 games in 2023-24; one of the youngest active players in the CHL in 2023-24, McKenna scored three or more points in 16 games, including six four-pointers and two hat tricks; his 97 points rank second among CHL rookies this season

Forward – Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 43 goals – 62 assists, 105 points, +49 in 68 games during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect was the CHL's top rookie in goals (43) and points (105) during the 2023-24 season; his 105 points are the most by a rookie in the CHL since the 2006-07 season (Patrick Kane – 145 points & Sam Gagner – 118 points)

Forward – Jake O'Brien (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL): 13 goals, 51 assists, 64 points, +4 in 61 games during the 2023-24 season; the 2025 NHL Draft prospect led all OHL rookies with 51 assists and 64 points, setting new rookie records for the Brantford Bulldogs.

• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board…

The opinions expressed in this press release are those of the issuing organization and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its employees.