CALGARY – Cole Reschny shared a poignant moment with his mother, Allison, on stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles as his NHL dream came true.
This emotional display is part of a difficult period for their close-knit family, as Allison, a mother of five, recently received a breast cancer diagnosis. Her battle reflects the strength and determination that also contributed to Cole being selected 18th overall by the Calgary Flames.
“She’s a battler,” Reschny commented, explaining how much the embrace with his mom, whom he fondly calls a `young lady`, meant to him.
“She’s doing well and is scheduled to start radiation treatment upon our return home,” he added.
“Watching her – how dedicated she is to taking care of me and our family, always being the best mom and person – seeing her face this is tough, but I’m confident she will overcome it. We are all here supporting her; we’re a very close family.”
Allison’s resilience is familiar in their small hometown of Macklin, Saskatchewan (population 1,200). The kids’ rural upbringing, including time spent on their grandfather’s farm, instilled strong character traits in them all.
Flames general manager Craig Conroy praised Reschny’s character, saying, “I can only imagine the weight he carries with this family situation on top of the draft process and everything else, but it truly shows what a high-character individual he is.”
“It’s never easy,” Conroy continued, “but I believe he will be a great support for her, just as she is for him. And now, she’s part of the Flames family too. We want to offer our full support to them in any way we can.”
In addressing the team’s primary need for centers, Conroy selected two players in Friday’s first round who both credit their mothers with significant influence on their development.
The second pick, 32nd overall, was Cullen Potter. His mother, Jenny, is a decorated athlete herself, a four-time Olympic medalist with the U.S. women’s hockey team.
Tristan Blackwood