Two Flames first-rounders score invites to Canada’s world junior camp

Two of the Calgary Flames’ future stars have landed on one of the most anticipated invite lists of the fall.

Zayne Parekh and Cole Reschny are headed to Hockey Canada’s world-junior training camp in Niagara Falls, Ont.

While Parekh has been a lock since the Flames confirmed that the rookie rearguard would be loaned to the national junior squad, the staff around the Saddledome were thrilled to hear that Reschny had also cracked Canada’s camp roster.

The 18th overall pick this past summer and still 18 years old, which means he will be eligible for the tournament again next December/January, Reschny has been an immediate difference-maker as a freshman with the NCAA’s University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Dating back to the start of November, Reschny has piled up 14 points over a nine-game span. He continued to roll by collecting a pair of assists in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies.

He is also winning 55.3 per cent of his faceoffs as a college newbie.

Reschny has a history of coming up clutch in a Team Canada sweater. He was part of a golden group at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships, where he scored the overtime winner in a quarterfinal scare from Czechia.

Parekh, 19, previously represented his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023. While he has been sidelined for the past month by an upper-body injury, he is expected to be fully cleared for camp.

“Being able to put that logo on, it’s special,” Parekh told Postmedia. “Being able to do it another time, it’s an opportunity that I don’t want to pass up.”

Canada’s camp roster features three netminders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards, which means there will need be a few cuts before the tournament opens on Boxing Day in Minnesota.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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