BEMIDJI – It was a busy summer for Isa Parakh.
The Bemidji State men’s hockey team’s sophomore defenseman was well-traveled. In mid-April, he took a flight to Los Angeles to watch his brother, Zayne, play in his first NHL game with the Calgary Flames – and score his first NHL goal.
A few weeks later, Parekh was named Bemidji State Male Newcomer of the year, an honor awarded to the best men’s freshman athlete among all BSU Athletics programs.
While home in Nobelton, Ontario, Parekh took “like, four trips to the freaking dentist” after he had “root canals done on three teeth, fillings and X-rays” from when he
in an upset over No. 3 Minnesota on Nov. 16. Parekh’s dad, Azim, is a dentist himself at Dr. Parekh and Associates in Alliston, Ontario, but he referred his middle son to a specialist.
Parekh then went over to Calgary in July, reuniting with Zayne at the Calgary Flames’ Player Development Camp.
Shortly after returning to Bemidji in late August for the start of the Beavers’ preseason camp, Parekh was named to the CCHA All-Preseason team by the league’s coaches and media.
In an eventful summer start to finish, his concluding event was anticlimactic.
“The preseason awards don’t mean much to me,” Parekh said. “I still have some stuff to prove this year. I had a great year last year, but that doesn’t mean anything anymore. The coaches and my teammates trust me. That’s all I can ask for.”
He’s right. He did have a great year last year.
Bemidji State’s Isa Parekh signs autographs after a game against Ferris State on Feb. 1, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Courtesy / Brent Cizek Photography
In 35 games as a rookie, Parekh scored three goals and 15 assists. He became a power-play quarterback and a top-pair blueliner, resulting in a CCHA All-Rookie Team selection.
“I think it came in the second half of the year when he started playing more and more,” head coach Tom Serratore said. “He was running that power play, and it gave him a lot of confidence. There’s always challenges, too, but he’s no longer a freshman. He’s a battle-tested sophomore now.”
However, it’s another instance of Parekh being unsatisfied competitively and apathetic to his accolades. At 6-foot, 154 pounds as a freshman, he aimed to gain weight. So he was put on an offseason program.
“It’s something I did every day in the offseason,” Parekh said, now at 162 pounds, with some extra push from his brothers.
Drafted ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, Zayne, the youngest brother, exited the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, 87 goals and 153 assists in 177 regular-season games. He also scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 29 postseason games over three seasons.
“Zayne forces food down my throat,” Parekh said with a laugh. “He yells at me every time I don’t finish a meal or if I’m not eating.”
On the family trip to Los Angeles for Zayne’s NHL debut, Parekh felt thrilled to witness his first pro goal.
“I didn’t expect him to score at all,” Parekh said. “I mean, he’s playing against (Quinton) Byfield, (Anze) Kopitar – all of those guys. To see him go in with all of that confidence, it was like he was playing in the OHL again. He got rewarded for how well he played, for sure. It was absurd.”
Parekh’s older brother, Aydin, had 23 assists in 31 games for Utica University, one of the top Division-III schools in the United States.
“I try to feed off of my brothers,” Parekh said. “My older brother is the smartest person I know. My younger brother is the best hockey player I know. I’m just trying to be better than them in every single situation, because if I’m better than them, I’m the best I can be.”
Bemidji State’s Isa Parekh speaks after being named BSU Male Newcomer of the Year on April 29, 2025.
Courtesy / Brent Cizek Photography
Parekh’s best isn’t just what the Beavers need this year – it’s what he expects of himself.
“I have things to prove to the people around me; I’ve had doubters my whole life,” Parekh said. “I didn’t get any awards when I was young. I felt like I was overlooked sometimes. I know I had a good year last year, but I still have stuff to prove, not just in this league, but in the whole NCAA. I want to be known as the guy who proved all of those people wrong.”
As a rookie, Parekh carried a chip on his shoulder as he learned college hockey’s ropes. However, a year removed from being a rookie, he admitted his early-season confidence masked his trepidation of playing under the NCAA’s bright lights.
“Going into last year, I was scared,” Parekh said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I’m a smaller guy who’s playing against men. Going into my sophomore year, I’m a lot more confident. I know I can make the play I need to make. I can work the blue line more confidently to make plays for myself and my teammates. I can be the best I can be.”
There’s no fronting his confidence now – it’s real, and the people around him see it, too.
“He’s stronger,” Serratore said. “He’s looking good out there. He’s got good quickness, he’s got good hands, he’s got good puck skills. … You can ask him, but the game’s slower for him this year. He’s battle-tested because he played on the power play and he played in a lot of big situations last year. He’s going to elevate his game. I have the utmost confidence in Isa.”