Another player projected to go in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is leaving the CHL to play in the NCAA.
Victoria Royals centre Cole Reschny, 18, told Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald that he has committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2025-26 season.
Reschny follows a similar move earlier this month by Erie Otters forward and NHL Draft first-round prospect Malcolm Spence, who has committed to the University of Michigan.
“I did a lot of talking with my family, my parents, my agent and ultimately, going to UND was the best decision,” Reschny told the Herald. “I think it will best prepare me for the next level, which is the NHL one day.”
The five-foot-11 Reschny had 26 goals and 66 assists for 92 points in 62 regular-season games and then added 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 11 WHL playoff games for Victoria this year.
Reschny also had five goals and three assists in five games for gold medal-winning Canada at the world under-18 championship earlier this spring in Texas.
The native of Macklin, Sask., was ranked 21st in Sam Cosentino’s May rankings for the NHL Draft.
An NCAA rule change late last year makes CHL players eligible to play U.S. college hockey starting in the 2025-26 season. While it was mostly players without junior eligibility or overagers committing in the initial months after the rule change, several key players with eligibility left have announced moves in recent months.
“When the rules change happened, I started to take a look at things,” Reschny told the Herald. “I think everyone is taking a look at things and is open to the best options. I think seeing schools — the big ones like UND — you realize how much rich history there is and how many good players have come out of there and how they develop players with their facilities.”