There are always questions when it comes to projecting NHL centremen — especially the ones who measure under six feet. But when it comes to Cole Reschny, there’s one thing that isn’t up for debate: the kid can flat-out play.
At 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, the pride of Macklin, Saskatchewan doesn’t carry the size of a prototypical first-line centre — yet the skill set he brings to the ice might be enough to change the conversation entirely. Drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2025, Reschny continues to prove that the intangibles outweigh the size.
This summer, Reschny lined up as the top-line centre for Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis. Surrounded by the country’s top junior talent and a handful of projected first-rounders, Reschny didn’t just hold his own — he led. Finishing the week with a goal and three assists in four games, he showed the same confidence, pace, and IQ that turned heads in Calgary’s front office on draft day.
Still just 18-years-old, Reschny is coming off a breakout season with the WHL’s Victoria Royals where he racked up 92 points in 62 games, including 26 goals and 66 assists. That kind of production speaks volumes, and Hockey Canada is listening too.
This wasn’t Reschny’s first time wearing the red Maple Leaf, either. He previously represented Canada at the U17 Hockey Challenge, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the 2025 U18 World Junior Championship, where he tallied seven points (5g,2a) in six games. Each stop along the way has reinforced the same message: he rises to the occasion.
Even with whispers about his size or questions about whether he can anchor a top NHL line down the road, Reschny keeps answering the only way he knows how — with results. He’s quick on pucks, unafraid of contact, and seems to play the game a half-second ahead of the competition. That cerebral, high-motor style makes him a reliable presence in all three zones, while his offensive instincts give him legitimate upside on the power play.
He’s set to take his talents to the University of North Dakota this fall, an ideal landing spot for a player with NHL ambition. UND has a proven track record of developing elite talent, (ie: Zach Parise, T.J Oshie and Jonathan Toews) and if Reschny’s current trajectory holds, he could be fast-tracked to Calgary quicker than some expect.
While it’s far too early to pencil him in as the Flames’ No. 1 centre of the future, there’s no denying the intrigue. He’s already separating himself from his peers — not just with production, but with presence. The Flames took a calculated swing with Reschny at 18th overall. So far, it looks like they connected.
Reschny isn’t just making noise — he might just be the next great story in Calgary.
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