The Calgary Flames will have two representatives for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. Earlier today, University of North Dakota forward and Flames freshman Cole Reschny and Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh were both named provisional members of the Canadian roster.
This move comes as no surprise as Reschny is coming off an excellent freshman season with the Fighting Hawks as a steady two-way player who regularly finds himself on the scoresheet. Meanwhile, Parekh will be one of the few players with NHL experience at the tournament.
Reschny and Parekh’s seasons so far
Reschny decided to continue his development and education after being selected 18th overall by the Flames in the 2025 NHL Draft with a move from the WHL’s Victoria Royals to the NCAA’s University of North Dakota.
Since his debut with the Fighting Hawks, Reschny has averaged around 6:00 per game and has been relied upon in all three zones. He also scored two goals and sixteen assists in sixteen games, showing how his game has also taken a step forward.
Parekh has had a difficult 2025-2026 campaign so far. His struggles were marred by persistent scratching by head coach Ryan Huska, limited ice time of 14:46 per game and an upper-body injury.
Despite Huska’s questionable judgment, Parekh remains one of the bright spots on a veteran-heavy Flames roster this year. He remains an elite skater with a high hockey IQ and excellent puck skills, which his only assist in eleven NHL games doesn’t fully explain.
The family tree of Reschny and Parekh’s national team
Both skaters have previously appeared for Team Canada. Reschny played with Canada Red at the U17 level, and a unified Team Canada at the U18 World Junior Championships and the Gretzky-Hlinka Cup.
Parekh also made his debut for Team Canada at the U17 level with Team Canada Black in 2022-2023. He was one of the CHL members selected for the 2023-2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he was a key part of their blueline. Parekh even appeared with the Team Canada senior squad in some preliminary matches for the 2025 World Championship.
Where do they fit on Team Canada?
Reschny is a Swiss Army Knife for Team Canada as he can play any type of game, whether it is an offensive presence or a defensive presence. The WHL alum has a unique game as he can thrive wherever they put him in the lineup and any shift can be a strong asset for the Canadians.
Reschny will likely find himself in a top-nine depth role that will have different demands on each shift, which is exactly where he would like to be.
Parekh thrives as a quick signing and in attacking-driven play. He has elite skating, which allows him to excel with top forwards like McKenna. He also possesses high-end processing, good hockey IQ and puck management, allowing him to be an excellent facilitator in the offensive zone.
Parekh likely fits as a top defenseman for the Canadians. It would also be a shock if Parekh wasn’t a power play QB for Team Canada.
The 2026 World Junior Championships
WJC 2026 runs from December 26, 2025 to January 5, 2026 and will be hosted in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Team Canada will play their first match of the tournament against the Czech Republic on December 26 at 7:30 PM CST.
Canada also plays Latvia on December 27, Denmark on December 29 and closes the round robin against Finland on December 31.
Are you excited to see Reschny and Parekh play for Team Canada? Who do you think will take home the gold? Let us know in the comments below.
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