MACKLIN — Macklin’s Cole Reschny is having a remarkable year in his hockey career.
Cole is a leading scorer in the SMAAAHL, has been called up by WHL team Victoria Royals playing four games this past season and will also be part of Team Saskatchewan for the upcoming Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island Feb. 15 to March 6. Cole is the only athlete from the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald readership area selected for athlete participation in CWG.
Cole is a 15-year-old forward with the Saskatoon Triple A U18 Blazers. For the 2022-23 season, as of Feb. 10, in 31 games played, Cole has scored 21 goals and 37 assists earning him 58 points so far in the SMAAAHL.
Cole was drafted round one, number three overall, by WHL Victoria Royals.
“What makes Cole a special player is his attention to detail and how he approaches his everyday. He’s a very focused and driven young man. He knows what he wants and gets after it. He’s preparation for practices and games is far beyond his years. This allows him to have the success he has on any given night,” Cole Shepherd, GM of the Saskatoon Blazers tells the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald and SASKTODAY.ca
Shepherd adds, “He has natural-born leadership and leads by example on the ice. It is great to see him have the success he has had this season. This is a great learning season for Cole, as he looks to step into the Western Hockey League. We’re fortunate to have a player of his calibre with our program to help push pace with development and also help win hockey games. Look forward to watching him grow and develop in hockey for years to come.”
Cole would have been a contributing factor to a full house on hand to watch his Blazers play a home game in the Macklin arena earlier in their regular season.
Cole tells the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald and SASKTODAY.ca, “In my second year of U11 minor hockey, I left Macklin Minor Hockey to go play U13 with the West Central Wheat Kings AA program. From there I went to Northern Alberta Extreme and now playing with Saskatoon AAA Blazers.
“I have been called up to play in the Western Hockey League with Victoria two times, playing four games.”
Cole says he recognizes he is going to have to play faster, stronger and smarter with the older guys in that league but says he believes he has a good mindset and looks forward to playing with better players.
Hockey players like Cole learned in December they would be part of Team Saskatchewan for Canada Winter Games.
“I think my biggest mentor through my hockey career has been my brother. Watching him and what he does really motivates me. My family has also done so much for me throughout my whole career so far. They have made so many sacrifices for me for which I am so thankful. And they are always there to support me,” adds Cole.
Cole says he is confident Team Saskatchewan will be competitive at CWG and says, “I think we have a good chance to do great things. We all have a goal to go far, and I think we have a good shot at it.”
Mom, Alison Reschny tells the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald and SASKTODAY.ca, “Cole started his minor hockey at the age of four in Macklin and played here until the end of his first year of U11, when he made the move to West Central Wheat Kings AA U13 team as an underager, playing three years with the team.”
Reschny said her son left home in Grade 9 to be billeted, playing two years in the U15 program at NAX Hockey Academy in Edmonton, which was a big step and difficult for his parents. Cole was fortunate to be with his big brother, Austin, who attended NAX that year as well, and she credits billet families who have helped his progression.
“This is Cole’s first year with the U18 Saskatoon Blazers. It was a tough decision because NAX had an amazing program, but he wanted a change and decided Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA program was the right choice. He knew some of the players/families on the team from past spring hockey programs as well and it was a bit closer to home. “
Reschny said he will play with the Blazers this season and hopes to make the team out in Victoria for next season, after being called up twice this year. Cole scored his first WHL goal in a game against Regina Pats and had a chance to play against Connor Bedard.
Alison says she and her husband and Cole’s younger sister are traveling to Prince Edward Island to cheer on Team Saskatchewan.
“Cole has four siblings, an older brother who plays in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with Grande Prairie Storm; an older sister who plays club volleyball and softball; a younger sister who plays school volleyball and softball and a younger brother who plays U13 West Central AA Wheat Kings. It gets busy with lots of travel, but the kids understand we cannot be at everything. It is so nice to have games live-streamed so you don’t feel like you are missing so much.”
Alison adds, “If we had to say one thing about what has driven Cole, we would have to agree with Cole that his older brother has pushed him to be better. Right from an early age he was always extremely competitive with his brother that was four years older than him. He travels to Wainwright all spring and summer for training with his older brother during the off season. Getting placed and training with older players that are stronger and more skilled forces him to always be at his best just to keep up. Cole’s hard work, determination and competitiveness has definitely played a role in getting him to where he is now. “
Canada Winter Games Team Saskatchewan has named its men’s hockey team, which includes a number of players from the Saskatoon Blazers. Seven players from the U18 AAA hockey club will wear the green and yellow. Cole will be joined on Team Saskatchewan at CWG by teammates, Emerson Clark, Reese Hamilton, Brayden Smith, Corban Almen, Kash Anderson and Lee Shurgot.