A Dream Come True: Jackson Parsons Gets the Call from Ottawa

OTTAWA, On -- At four o’clock yesterday afternoon in Belleville, goaltending prospect Jackson Parsons received a call he was not anticipating.

He was going to the show.

“It's surreal,” an obviously elated Parsons affirmed. “When I got the call yesterday, it was a very happy, happy ride up to Ottawa, calling some lifelong buddies who are also Sens fans, and they couldn't believe it either. So I was just super happy to be back.

Born in Ottawa, Parsons grew up a Sens fan while living in Embrun, an eastern community in the Russell Township - a 50-minute drive to the Canadian Tire Centre.

The goaltender signed with the Senators as an undrafted free agent on July 3, 2025, after an impressive overage season with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. In his age-20 season, and fourth with the Rangers, Parsons compiled a 37-12-3 record, a 2.24 goals against average, five shutouts, and a .920 save percentage.

His efforts earned him some serious hardware.

Parsons was named the OHL and CHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’, an OHL and CHL First-Team All-Star, and the Leo Lalonde Trophy winner for the OHL’s ‘Overage Player of the Year’.

Listed at 6’2”, and 203 lbs, Parsons is only in his second year as a professional.

Last season, he split time between the Senators’ ECHL affiliate in Allen (22 games) and Belleville (14 games).

Through eight appearances in Belleville this season, he recorded a 4-3-1 record, a 2.64 goals against average, and a .916 save percentage.

“(Belleville’s) been great,” Parsons said. “The guys were playing really well in front of me. We're on a win streak right now. They're heading to Utica tomorrow, so we’re hoping to keep that going. But it's been really good so far.”

Today, his efforts were rewarded with a promotion, and it was obvious the moment was not lost on the young goaltender as he stood beaming in front of his stall in the Ottawa Senators’ dressing room.

“If you told me two years ago, when I was playing my overage season in the OHL, that I would be in the Senators' dressing room when I’m 21 years old,” Parsons stated after the Senators’ morning skate while describing this moment. “I wouldn't believe you. It's awesome.”

Earlier that morning, the recall announcement raised eyebrows.

Linus Ullmark participated in every practice this week and looked ready to return to the lineup. So, when the Senators returned Jonas Johansson to Belleville, the expectation was that Ullmark had cleared the necessary hurdles to dress.

Interestingly, Johansson, whose resume includes 109 NHL games, including four with the Senators and a win over the New York Rangers on October 14th, was not recalled.

Instead, the organization elected to reward their young goaltending prospect for his recent stretch of games.

Parsons attributed the stretch to improved reads and maturing, which helps him handle the ebbs and flows of his goaltending performances.

"The experience that you get playing in the AHL is something that you just have to go through," he explained. "There's no magic sauce. You have to go through the hard times. So, that's helped me and going through last year playing in Allen and playing a little bit in Belleville, it has led me here."

His improvements have certainly caught scouts' attention.

On a recent episode of the 'Hot Seat' podcast with Alex Adams, Jason Bukala, the founder of The Pro Hockey Group and a contributor at Sportsnet, the NHL Network, and PuckPedia, raved about Parsons' game.

"Watch Parsons closely," Bukala directed. "Watch him closely. Watch how he moves. Watch how he handles the puck. Watch the confidence in the crease. Just watch everything about him and just ask yourself, 'Do I trust that (goalie)?' Can I compartmentalize what he is and envision (his future)?

"He's not busy. He's on time. He moves pucks. He's a proven winner. There's a lot to like there."

How long Parsons stays in Ottawa remains to be seen. His promotion will afford Linus Ullmark more time to heal, ensuring that when he returns, he will be fully healthy.

Without any guarantee of how long that will be, Parsons will live in the moment and soak everything in.

"That's the biggest thing for me because you never know how long you're going to be up here," he acknowledged. "Obviously, knowing all the trainers, the staff, goalie coaches, and players, they're all awesome. I'm just going to try and be with the group as much as I can.

“(My mindset) is just staying in the present. Obviously, there's lots of movement up and down between Ottawa, Belleville, and even Allen. So, I've dealt with it before. I know this was always an opportunity that could come up, but for it to come up so early in the season, I'm extremely grateful.

“I don't think it's fair to say that I expected it, but I'm obviously extremely grateful and super happy. My parents couldn't believe it, but obviously I'm extremely excited (to dress).”

And in what could be a rare moment, a Senators goaltender who will not start tonight's game may take the ice first as part of the honoured rookie lap tradition.

But even if Parsons steps on the ice after Sam Ersson, one thing is certain. He will soak it all in.