LOS ANGELES – One current National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) player and one incoming freshman heard their names called Friday night at the Peacock Theater, as Arizona State rising sophomore forward Cullen Potter and North Dakota incoming freshman forward Cole Reschny were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. The two could be future teammates, as both were drafted by the Calgary Flames.
Reschny was taken 18th overall by the Flames. The Macklin, Saskatchewan native has spent the last two seasons playing for the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Reschny served as an assistant captain for the Royals this past season, leading the team with a franchise-record 66 assists and 92 points in 62 regular-season games, while scoring 26 goals, which was second on the Royals. The left-shot center added a team-best 25 points (9g/16a) in 11 playoff games.
Reschny also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Championship in late April and early May, helping Team Canada win gold with eight points (5g/3a) in five games. He was named one of the top three players for Canada at the tournament. In his first year with Victoria in 2023-24, Reschny racked up 59 points in 61 games.
Potter was drafted by the Flames with the 32nd and final pick in the first round, becoming the highest NHL draft pick in Arizona State history. Starting the 2024-25 season as a 17-year-old, the Minneapolis, Minn. native earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors after compiling 15 points (9g/6a) in 22 conference games, with his nine goals third among freshmen. Overall, Potter finished his freshman year with 22 points in 35 games for the Sun Devils, including 13 goals, which was second among NCHC rookies. His 81 shots on goal led rookies in NCHC action, while he helped ASU finish in second place in its inaugural NCHC season.
Potter, who turned 18 in January, captured a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Championship in May. The speedy winger potted four goals and added four assists while representing the U.S. in seven games in Texas. Similar to Reschny, Potter was named one of Team USA’s top three players at the tournament.
The NCHC has now had 16 current or incoming players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft since the conference began play in 2013-14.
The 2025 NHL Draft concludes Saturday with rounds 2-7. Day two of the NHL Draft begins at noon ET/9 a.m. PT and will be televised on NHL Network and streamed on ESPN+ in the United States, as well as televised on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
NCHC PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2025 NHL DRAFT
Rd. Pick Player NCHC Team Pos. NHL Team
1 18 Cole Reschny North Dakota F Calgary
1 32 Cullen Potter Arizona State F Calgary
ALL-TIME NCHC PLAYERS SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT
Year Pick Player NHL Team NCHC Team
2014 20 Nick Schmaltz Chicago North Dakota
2015 23 Brock Boeser Vancouver North Dakota
2015 25 Jack Roslovic Winnipeg Miami
2016 10 Tyson Jost Colorado North Dakota
2016 20 Dennis Cholowski Detroit St. Cloud State
2016 23 Henrik Borgstrom Florida Denver
2016 25 Riley Tufte Dallas Minnesota Duluth
2017 25 Ryan Poehling Montreal St. Cloud State
2018 26 Jacob Bernard-Docker Ottawa North Dakota
2020 5 Jake Sanderson Ottawa North Dakota
2022 31 Isaac Howard Tampa Bay Minnesota Duluth
2024 12 Zeev Buium Minnesota Denver
2024 18 Sacha Boisvert Chicago North Dakota
2024 30 EJ Emery N.Y. Rangers North Dakota
2025 18 Cole Reschny Calgary North Dakota
2025 32 Cullen Potter Calgary Arizona State
–#NCHChockey–
