Over the weekend, I watched both games that the Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals played against one another on Friday and Saturday (the latter team being the host to this mini-series, who came from behind to win in overtime both times in front of their home crowd). My primary intention was to get a better look at a player I have covered in this series, Berkly Catton, a likely top 10 pick next year and a very talented center for Spokane. As to be expected, Catton impressed me in his very crucial role, not only with his offensive prowess that I know him for and he has been lauded for many times over, but with his faceoff abilities. However, it was a player for Victoria who really captured my interest in this matchup. His name was one I had heard kicked around before, but not one that seemed to be at the forefront of discussions for players from his age class. Watching him play and looking more into his profile, I could not help but wonder why. This player is currently in his D-1 year and might be somewhat underrated when evaluating prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Let us take a look at this very talented young Saskatchewan-born forward and what he has accomplished to this point.

Cole Reschny was born on April 6th, 2007, in Macklin, SK. Like many big name prospects, he burst onto the scene as a youngster and made his presence known via the Brick Invitational, at which he appeared as a nine-year-old, scoring 7 points in 6 games for the Saskatchewan Jr. Pats (the Regina WHL team’s minor system). At age 11, he was a participant in the World Selects Invitational U12, where he posted 11 points in 8 games for Western Canada Selects. He further participated in the WSI at the U15 level three years later with Pro Hockey Selects, tallying 14 points in 9 games. This coincided with his explosive season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League with Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep, where he scored 40 goals and added 52 assists in 25 regular season games and was named the division’s MVP. He further had 11 points in 4 postseason games and spent some time at the U16 level, with 6 points in 3 regular season appearances and 10 in 5 playoff games. His output was enough to where he was drafted third overall in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft by the Victoria Royals, making him the highest ever selection in the draft in the team’s history. The team was high on his overall profile, not just for his scoring, but for his prowess in other zones, as well, particularly just how energetic and responsible he is in the defensive zone. In the weekend series against Spokane and Victoria, this was definitely visible. Reschny struck me as having about as complete of a game as Catton. It makes sense, though – As noted in the article, Connor Bedard and Matthew Savoie are two other big names who have won the CSSHL MVP before entering the WHL. It is pretty well documented what those two players’ accomplishments since then have been like, so I will let the company Reschny is in speak for itself.

Reschny would spend most of the following season playing at the AAA level with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA team. He put up phenomenal numbers, performing to the tune of 65 points in 34 regular season games followed by 17 points in 11 playoff outings. He would spend 4 games in the WHL, scoring his first career goal at the major junior level against the Prince George Cougars (who, incidentally, were once based out of Victoria) on November 19th, 2022. This year, he has a more featured role, and has performed quite well as a young talent in the CHL, with 9 points in 10 games at the time of publication. He currently has a +3, which is a stat that usually doesn’t tell you much, but that mark is certainly pretty impressive for a player on a team that, at present, has a -8 goal differential and a somewhat unspectacular record. This is indicative of Reschny’s responsibility in keeping pucks out of the net, in addition to his stated prowess in helping them get into that of the opponent. Truly, a well-rounded talent, and one that Victoria is very fortunate to have been able to draft.

With regards to where Reschny stands among his peers that are eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, he is likely to go in the first two rounds (Lines has him at 23rd), but he is not considered a “top” prospect in being a lock for the top 10. The talent is definitely there, so one has to contemplate what is holding his draft stock back. I hate to play the height card, especially considering that there is a fair amount of time for Reschny to shoot up in projections. However, it is worth speculating upon whether or not the 5’9″ forward is being hindered by this obsession scouts have given the effect it has had time and time again when it should not have any real bearing (for an update on our good friend Denver Barkey, as to be expected, he is leading the charge for a very good London Knights squad that are among the best in the OHL with a team-leading 15 points in 11 games and is performing quite well on both ends of the ice). This all said, however, this can go one of two ways, both of which are fine. Reschny can either be projected higher and benefit from that or he can become a fantastic sleeper pick/draft steal. No matter the scenario or how he gets there, we have reasons to think he will be a very good NHL player who will have a great story to his name that was crafted by the path he took to get there. I will enjoy watching how the rest of his CHL career unfolds and what his entrance into the NHL will look like.