Growing up around Oil Country, Macklin native and Calgary Flames 2025 first-round pick Cole Reschny may have some work to do converting his hometown into part of the "C of Red".
Reschny confirmed his allegiances back on draft night, and only time will tell if people follow suit.
Reschny: “I live in Macklin, Saskatchewan and my family was an Oilers family when I came along. I grew up rooting for them, up until now. I’m very excited to be part of (the BOA). I’m very excited to be on this side and bring what I can to the table for the Flames. Such a great…
— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) June 28, 2025
Reschny did confirm in a post draft interview with West Central Online that he's already turning his house Calgary red, though the fandom concerns will amount to nothing more than a fun piece of trivia down the road as he focuses on his ultimate goal of making the National Hockey League.
From his days with Macklin Minor Hockey, to playing with the West Central Wheat Kings, Reschny was happy to recall his hockey career back home before things got serious.
"I played in Macklin all the way up until (U13). I played three years in Kindersley for the West Central team, one underage year, and then both years of pee wee," said Reschny, reminiscing on the years he put up 174 points in 48 regular season games.
"It was great. A lot of fun, a lot of memories with guys from that area... A lot of travelling too, which got me ready for the Western league."
Becoming eligible for the WHL draft, Reschny moved to play in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, spending time with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 and U16 prep teams from 2020-2022.
Reschny had an insane 92 points in 25 games at the U15 level to increase his draft stock, eventually being selected #3 by the Victoria Royals in the 2022 WHL Draft. From there Reschny's road to the WHL included a very successful stop with the AAA Saskatoon Blazers for the 2022-23 season, Reschny and company winning bronze at the Telus Cup national championship.
Taking on the WHL full time in 2023, in parts of three seasons with the Royals Reschny lit it up with 152 points in 127 regular season games, a playoff performer as well with 27 points in 15 postseason games, a vast majority of those coming this past year as the Royals lost in the second round.
After the playoff run, Reschny made an appearance with Team Canada at the IIHF U18 championship, stepping in late but still contributing seven points in six games en route to gold
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With his gold medal in tow, Reschny faced a big decision as he returned home for the offseason. A rule change starting this year is allowing WHL stars like Reschny a chance to play NCAA hockey, rather than going back to dominate in junior.
Instead of running it back with the Royals, the small-town Saskatchewan stud made his commitment to the historic University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey program.
"Tons of stuff went into that. Tons of thinking and talking with everyone," said Reschny.
The top prospect shared that he originally wanted to wait until after the draft to make his commitment.
"Originally I wanted to wait, just see where I was drafted, and then make the decision depending on what the team thought was best for me."
Instead, an opportunity to play for the eight-time national champions was just too good to pass up.
"I ultimately came to the decision that I am going to school. Having more time to work on my body, and my mental side of the game was more beneficial for me. Made that decision before the combine so I could go there, have those chats, and explain to NHL teams why I made the decision."
Victoria lost not only Reschny to UND, but also a top prospect in next year's draft in defenseman Keaton Verhoeff. Those two players are near the top of a lengthy list of CHLers to make the jump, headlined by phenom Gavin McKenna who left the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers to commit to Penn State University in a historic agreement.
Losing key pieces to college is going to be a tough adjustment for Canadian Hockey League teams, but Reschny says he couldn't have left the WHL on better terms.
"Everyone was supportive. Victoria was great. I can't thank them enough for the two great years I had there, probably the best years of my life so far," said Reschny. "It's very exciting. It was a tough decision, but it was the best one for me."
Congrats to Cole Reschny on being selected 18th overall by the Calgary Flames! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/zQeOqz5PGE
— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) June 28, 2025
Reschny's interview came as he was preparing to make his first real trip to the North Dakota campus for some informal skates.
Before a long drive to Fargo, Reschny had his first taste of the NHL at Flames development camp in Calgary to start July.
"It was a great week. Flew out to Calgary a couple days after the draft, so it was pretty smooth. We got started there, on the ice a bit, in the gym too, but we also got to do some fun activities like going to a Stampeders game, this launchpad thing, doing some golfing, going out to Banff and Lake Louise," said Reschny recapping his first week as a Flame.
With that out of the way, Reschny took us back to Los Angeles, and told us about the moment he was selected #18 overall.
"Very cool. Pretty special that all my family got to come," he said. "Leading up to the draft I was anxious a bit, excited too, but I had no idea what was going to happen."
17 picks later, a core memory was achieved.
"When I heard my name called by Calgary, and Lanny McDonald, it was honestly a blur.
"It was so surreal, you just blank out for a bit walking up on stage. It was very special," said Reschny, who shortly after spoke with Flames GM Craig Conroy, also getting a text from Flames captain Mikael Backlund, and 13-year NHL vet Jonathan Huberdeau welcoming him to the organization.
Doing an interview with his home radio station was likely a nice break from the full court press of media coverage prior to the draft.
Many reporters just have to ask about Reschny's farm roots, often bringing up a question about his family's goats back home in Macklin.
"They all think it's amazing and cool where I come from, even just helping out on the farm and things like that," laughed Reschny. "I don't mind it; I get it a lot from reporters and things like that. It's good, actually Connor Zary text me after the draft and said it's always good to have more western boys, especially Sasky.
"It's cool the way it worked out. With Calgary not being too far (from Macklin), and being on the uprise, so it works out good."
NEWS: Cole Reschny named to 2025 Canadian World Junior Summer Showcase rosterhttps://t.co/Gc9IOblBKf#UNDproud | #LGH
— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) July 28, 2025
With the whirlwind past few months now behind him, Reschny is back on the ice playing the game he loves at the highest level.
The latest news for Reschny saw him being named to Team Canada's roster for the World Junior Summer Showcase taking place this week in Minnesota, one of 44 players getting an early look ahead of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
In just a few months he will be part of the new and improved college hockey landscape taking over headlines, growing his game where it needs to go if he wants to be a staple part of the Battle of Alberta for years to come — and his family and friends will be watching closely from where it all started in West Central Saskatchewan.