Victoria Royals forward Cole Reschny said he watched some of the summer’s big international sporting events — Euros, Copa, Paris Olympics — “out of the corner of my eye because the TV was always on.”
The darting-only glances were because he was creating an international sporting podium story of his own in playing a key role in leading Canada to the gold medal in the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky U-18 Cup in Edmonton.
“It definitely felt a little different in the middle of the summer for hockey. It was a different atmosphere but we fed off that. It was unbelievable … a feeling I’ve never felt before against the highest level and best [U-18] teams in the world,” said Reschny.
“Any time you are in an environment like that, you soak it in and embrace being around that. It was pretty cool and special getting to play in that arena [Rogers Place] and being in that facility and [Oilers] dressing room and having the tournament we had with that national team.”
Reschny was Canada’s co-leading scorer in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the tournament’s tied for fifth-leading scorer with seven points in five games: “Obviously, it’s good when you can play and perform at a high level and put up a few points.”
So much so that both the Hockey Forums and Tankathon websites have Reschny going in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft at 14th and 15th overall, respectively. Elite Prospects has Reschny ranked for the late middle of the second round, 50th overall. (All the sites have James Hagens, a forward from Boston College, as the consensus top overall pick).
“Obviously, it’s a big year for me in my draft year and I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me,” said Reschny.
“Those are just lists. In the ultimate picture, you have to play to your ability and the NHL teams will rank you where they see you fitting in their sights. You’ve got to show them what you’ve got, not just the people making the lists. Nothing is guaranteed. I’m looking forward to it and getting faster and stronger this season.”
Now he goes from country to club as the Royals’ training camp opened Friday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre: “I’m excited after getting my first season in the WHL under my belt and we made the playoffs and that was a big achievement for the team after not having done that in five years. We didn’t do what we wanted to in the playoffs so this coming season is going to be huge for us. It’s a different atmosphere and were are setting the bar high here in camp. If you can’t meet that, or exceed that, you are going to be out of here pretty fast. [Royals head coach James Patrick] has a picture in mind and all of us are going to have to meet that.”
Training camp scrimmage sessions continue today at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The annual Showcase intra-squad game is Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. Admission will be by donation with proceeds going to the Victoria Royals Foundation.
Victoria opens the WHL preseason against the Vancouver Giants on Sept. 7-8 in Port Coquitlam and concludes it against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sept. 11 in Kent, Washington.
The Royals will open the 2024-25 WHL regular season Sept. 20-21 against the Tri-City Americans at the Memorial Centre.
