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