Flames Prospect Cole Reschny Leaves Game After Collision, Early Signs Point to Minor Injury
The Calgary Flames have been hit hard by the injury bug this season when it comes to their NCAA pipeline, and on Saturday night, another name was added to the list - at least temporarily.
Cole Reschny, the 18-year-old freshman center for the University of North Dakota and one of the Flames’ top prospects, exited Saturday’s matchup against Minnesota-Duluth after taking a heavy hit late in the second period. The play unfolded as Reschny tried to make a move around Bulldogs defenseman Brady Cleveland, who knocked him off balance and into the boards. Cleveland was assessed a minor penalty for slashing, but the bigger concern quickly shifted to Reschny, who stayed down before being helped off the ice by the team’s athletic trainer.
The hit came with just under four minutes remaining in the middle frame, and Reschny did not return for the third period.
After the game, Fighting Hawks head coach Dane Jackson offered a cautiously optimistic update, indicating that the early signs point to a contusion rather than any structural or ligament damage.
“Positive thing is I don’t think there’s anything major structurally,” Jackson said postgame. “It’s early, but I think it looks more like a contusion than ligament damage.
But we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. Doc did a basic evaluation here.
I’m sure we’ll get some images of it.”
That’s a sigh of relief for both North Dakota and the Flames organization, especially considering the string of injuries Calgary’s prospects have endured this season. Henry Mews and Cullen Potter have already seen their NCAA campaigns cut short, while former first-rounders Zayne Parekh and Sam Honzek have also missed significant time.
Reschny, fortunately, was seen walking on his own after the game - no boot, no crutches, just a noticeable limp. That small detail might not show up on a stat sheet, but for those tracking his development, it’s a promising sign.
At the time of his exit, the game was still scoreless. But North Dakota rallied in the third, sparked in part by the absence of their top-line center. Flames prospect Abram Wiebe stepped up in a big way, notching three assists to help lift the Fighting Hawks to a 4-1 win.
“It’s unfortunate. Hope that he can come back soon,” Wiebe said postgame.
“But I think it kind of sparked something in us to play for him. I think that’s exactly what we did.”
Reschny has been a standout in his freshman campaign, posting 25 points in 24 games while centering North Dakota’s top line. He’s been a reliable presence in the faceoff circle, winning 55 percent of his draws, and has earned significant minutes on both the power play and penalty kill - a testament to his well-rounded game and maturity beyond his years.
Drafted 18th overall by the Flames in 2025 - a pick they acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the Jacob Markstrom trade - Reschny has quickly established himself as one of the organization’s most promising young players. Prior to joining the Fighting Hawks, he spent parts of three seasons with the WHL’s Victoria Royals, serving as an alternate captain in his draft year. He also represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he tallied four goals and five points in seven games.
For now, all eyes will be on the results of further testing. But if the early read holds true, the Flames and Fighting Hawks might have dodged a bullet.