Macklin, SK's Cole Reschny was the only Saskatchewan talent with team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championships. (Tim Austen | HHOF-IIHF Images)

By Ryan Lambert

Only Sask born player at world juniors

Macklin’s Cole Reschny reflects on 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship

Jan 14, 2026 | 1:35 PM

The World Junior U20 hockey championships are a tradition that Canadian hockey fans across the country look forward to every single year. This past tournament, the Canadian squad took home the bronze with a 6-3 win in the bronze medal game over Finland.

Saskatchewan’s lone representative on team Canada was University of North Dakota forward and Calgary Flames prospect Cole Reschny, who is from the small town of Macklin close to the Alberta border with a population of just over 1,000 people.

Reschny described playing at the tournament as a very special experience.

“Getting that opportunity to represent your country and wear that Maple Leaf on your chest, it’s always an honor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring home the gold, but it was nice to kind of get a win there (in the) last game and bring home a medal.”

The Macklin native, who had five points (4G-1A) said while the end goal is obviously to win the gold, it was good to take home the bronze. “It’s tough to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in the semi-finals and come out the next day and find that energy to do it,” said Reschny. “But we all kind of wanted to do it for each other in the room and for the country that was supporting us the whole time. I think we did a good job of coming back the next day and doing whatever we could to win a bronze medal.”

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It’s not easy to grow up in a small town and reach the stage that Reschny has, and he gives a lot of the credit to his parents, Allison and Clinton. “Being in Saskatchewan, obviously it’s a lot of travel with being in a very small town… a ton of credit goes to my parents and what they’ve done for me and my family to kind of raise me up,” said Reschny. “ I think it’s kind of shaped me into the person I am and the player I am all the way up until today,” he added about growing up in Macklin.

Reschny also appreciates the support that he has gotten from Macklin throughout his young career. “Macklin is a great community, a very tight community. Growing up there was unbelievable. They got the rink, the ball diamonds, the golf course. We’re pretty lucky with what we have down there…being from Macklin is special. I won’t forget my roots and a lot of thanks to the people that have helped me along the way.”

A prospect of the Calgary Flames, Reschny had a chance to play alongside fellow prospect Zayne Parekh, who set the Canadian record for points by a defenceman in a single tournament with 13. Reschny described Parekh as a “special talent.”

“You don’t come across them very often. So, it’s nice whenever you get the opportunity to play with such a highly skilled two-way defenceman the way he is. He’s a good guy off the ice too, so it was nice to get to know him even more. Hopefully we can do some great things one day.”

At eighteen years old, Reschny could still potentially play in the world junior tournament again next season. When asked, he said the biggest takeaway from the tournament that he can apply next year is just knowing how hard it is to win at that level.

“It’s what everyone wants and it’s what we all strive for, but it’s hard. Losing and that feeling you have, it just makes you want to win that much more. It sucks because we did have a very special group, but if I’m lucky enough to play in next years tournament, it will just fuel me that much more,” said Reschny.

After the tournament, Reschny continues the rest of the season with the University of North Dakota, where he has 20 points (3g-17a) in 18 games so far this season.

Reschny’s full interview will be aired during the second intermission of the Battlefords North Stars game against the Warman Wolverines on Jan. 16.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com