The Calgary Flames will have two representatives for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. Earlier today, University of North Dakota forward and Flames first-rounder Cole Reschny, and Flames defender Zayne Parekh were both named preliminary members of the Canadian roster.

This move is not a surprise, as Reschny has been off to a stellar freshman season with the Fighting Hawks as a stable two-way forward who regularly finds 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 further 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 18:00 a game and is relied upon in all three zones. He’s also scored two goals and 16 assists across 16 games, which shows how his playmaking has also taken a step forward.

Parekh has had a rocky 2025–26 campaign so far. His struggles have been marred by consistent scratches by head coach Ryan Huska, limited ice time to the tune of 14:46 per game, and an upper-body injury.

Despite questionable judgment by Huska, Parekh remains one of the bright spots on a veteran-heavy Flames roster this year. He remains an elite skater with high hockey IQ and top-end puck skills, which his one assist across 11 NHL contests does not fully articulate.

Reschny and Parekh’s national team pedigree

Both skaters have actually appeared for Team Canada before. Reschny starred with Canada Red at the U17, 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 U17s with Team Canada Black back in 2022–23. He was one of the CHL members selected for the 2023–24 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he was a staple on their blueline. Parekh even appeared with the senior squad of Team Canada in some preliminary games for the 2025 World Championship.

Where do they fit into Team Canada?

Reschny is a Swiss-army knife for Team Canada, as he can play any sort of game, be it a playmaking offensive presence or a shutdown defensive one. The WHL alum has a unique game, as he can thrive anywhere they put him in the lineup and be a strong asset for the Canadians every shift.

Reschny will likely slot into a top-nine depth role that will have different demands every shift, which is exactly where he would want to be.

Parekh thrives as a rush asset and in offensively driven plays. He has elite skating, which will let him excel with top-end forwards like McKenna. He also has high-end processing, good hockey IQ and puck management to be an excellent offensive-zone facilitator.

Parekh likely slots in as a top-pairing defender for the Canadians. It would also be a shock if Parekh were not a power play QB for Team Canada.

The 2026 World Junior Championships

The 2026 WJC runs December 26, 2025, to January 5, 2026 and is being hosted in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Team Canada plays their first game of the tournament against Czechia on December 26 at 7:30 PM CST.

Canada also plays Latvia on December 27, Denmark on December 29, and closes out 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 bring home the gold? Let us know in the comments below.

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