GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Cole Reschny, a freshman forward for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Rookie of the Year on March 17, 2026, capping a season that has exceeded his expectations, according to the 18-year-old.
Just a year ago, Reschny was preparing for the Western Hockey League playoffs with the Victoria Royals, unsure of what the future held. Now, he’s a key player for the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, drawing comparisons to former UND stars like Travis Zajac, Jonathan Toews, Corban Knight, and Jason Gregoire.
“Honestly, I think it’s exceeded my expectations,” Reschny said. “I came in here just wanting to get better. I thought it was a place I could grow — not only as a player, but as a person, too. It’s been great. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the opportunities I’ve had. It’s been great becoming a better player, working on my 200-foot game. It’s been awesome. It’s been a great year so far.”
Through 33 games this season, Reschny has recorded five goals and 34 points for the Fighting Hawks. His 29 assists are second among UND freshmen over the past 25 years, trailing only Brock Boeser and Zach Parise.
UND was eliminated from the NCHC semifinals by Minnesota Duluth last Saturday in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks now have the weekend off to prepare for the NCAA tournament regionals, with the pairings to be announced at 2 p.m. Sunday. Sioux Falls, S.D., is considered a likely host site.
“We’ve got some time ahead of us to look at it and work and grow as a team,” Reschny said. “I think we’re all excited for the opportunity. We’ve put ourselves in great position to have some success here. It’s going to be tough, but it’s going to be fun and we’re really looking forward to it.”
This marks Reschny’s first experience with the single-elimination format of the NCAA tournament. “Obviously, it’s a little different than playing a seven-game series,” he said. “But it’s fun. It’s the best time of the year and we’re getting the opportunity, a good one. We’re just going to take it and run with it. The first game is on our mind right now.”
Reschny, drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, reflected on the unique atmosphere surrounding the UND program. “There’s a lot of rich history,” he said. “I don’t think I realized how cherished and special this program is — not only to the university, but to the city of Grand Forks. It’s a special place to play and I’m extremely, very thankful for this opportunity I got this year.”
Reschny verbally committed to North Dakota on May 30, 2025, joining teammate Keaton Verhoeff in choosing the Fighting Hawks. Prior to joining UND, Reschny played for the Victoria Royals, where he was drafted third overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He played four games for the Royals in the 2022-23 season, scoring one goal, and followed that with 21 goals and 38 assists in 61 games in 2023-24. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 26 goals and 66 assists in 62 games, adding nine goals and 16 assists in 11 playoff games.
Reschny also has international experience, having represented Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he won a gold medal, and the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships, also earning a gold medal. He also played for Canada Red at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
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