How Cole Reschny's brothers and time at the farm shaped his hockey career

GRAND FORKS — Cole Reschny left home at age 13.

He moved to Edmonton to play hockey for Northern Alberta Xtreme U15. His older brother, Austin, opted to play for NAX's 18U team that season.

They billeted at the same Edmonton home, living in an unfinished basement. Their beds were three feet apart.

They shared a bedroom growing up in Macklin, Sask., but this was different.

"We literally spent every hour of the week together," Austin said.

Each weekend, they made a six-hour round trip between Edmonton and Macklin. They had lots of time to talk, and they did.

They talked about everything — life, hockey, sports, family, the Oilers, their friends.

"Tough conversations, good conversations," Austin said. "We were already super close, but that year made us even closer. We loved each other even more."

Few know UND hockey star Cole Reschny quite like his brothers, Austin, 23, and Anderson, 16.

They were together all the time growing up. They put holes in the wall playing ministicks in their basement. They made two-hour round trips to Wainwright, Alta., to work out before dawn. They baled hay together in the summer and tended to the family's goats in the winter.

They know exactly why Cole grew from a competitive young hockey player in a tiny Saskatchewan town into an NHL first-round draft pick and the youngest captain in UND hockey history.

"I've seen more than anybody how much he cares and how much hard work he puts in," Austin said. "I can't think of anybody more deserving for what he's accomplished so far. It's not just because he's my brother. He treats people the right way. He goes about his business doing things the right way — working hard, showing up and being a good human being."

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald

The work ethic started at the farm.

Their father, Clinton, grew up on a farm just outside of Macklin. The boys spent much of their free time there.

In the summer, Clinton cut the ditches and square-baled hay. The boys had the grueling job of lifting the 80-pound bales, throwing them on a truck and stacking them. They picked 2,000 to 3,000 bales a summer in the often-sweltering heat.

Goat-kidding season came during their winter school break. Their family had between 30 and 100 goats.

"With goats, they have twins or triplets, so you have to go check on them," Cole said. "The best time to have them was late January or early February, so it was freezing out there. But you had to do it."

The brothers took turns checking on the goats all day and night. They set their alarms for 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. to get up overnight in sub-zero temperatures and make their rounds.

"If they're having trouble giving birth," Austin said, "you've got to help them."

Between shifts, they sat at the farmhouse, played Monopoly and watched hockey. They ate cereal or Kraft meals while their parents worked in town.

Clinton works as an oilfield services sales manager. Their mother, Allison, works at the school.

Their other farm duties included fencing, working with machinery, feeding the animals, building mini-igloos for the goats and rounding them up whenever they got out and made it to a neighbor's yard.

"The work sucks sometimes, but it's the reason I am where I am today," Cole said. "We were always taught that hard work is what's going to get you the farthest in life."

Hockey also was central to the Reschny household.

Clinton played adult hockey in Macklin, which piqued Austin's interest. Once Austin started playing, Cole wanted to do the same.

"When you have an older brother, you always want to do what he's doing," Cole said. "I always wanted to be like him."

They played on the ice — and in the family basement.

Cole and Anderson usually teamed up for ministick games. Austin often convinced their youngest sister, Ashley, now 17, to be on his side. Their oldest sister Cassidy, now 21, usually declined to join the chaos.

"Some pretty crazy, heated battles," Austin said. "Lots of slashes, bruises, tears, blood. . . a lot of holes in the walls, a couple of smashed windows. A lot of tears and fights. But it was all good."

Austin said Cole's competitiveness was obvious from a young age.

"He hated to lose more than anybody I ever knew," Austin said. "He always wanted to be the best at everything. If he lost a ministick game or ping pong, we'd keep playing again until he won. If we kept beating him, he'd be completely rattled."

Cole quickly rose in the hockey world.

At age 14, he was selected No. 3 overall in the Western Hockey League Draft behind Gavin McKenna and Jackson Smith, who were Penn State teammates last season.

Mike Bernard / Hockey Canada Images

After his second year with Victoria in the WHL, Reschny became a top draft prospect.

NHL teams ask prospects during draft interviews who inspires them. Cole told them it was Austin.

"I always wanted to be like him and be better at him at things," Cole said. "He works so hard and he cares so deeply about everything he does. Learning that from him and following in his footsteps and having him by my side to push me was big. He pushed me a lot."

After a terrific freshman season, tallying 35 points in 36 games and leading UND to the NCAA Frozen Four, Reschny was named team captain.

He became UND's first sophomore captain since Dave Hakstol in 1990 and the youngest captain ever.

His brothers weren't surprised.

"He's always been super mature," Anderson said. "He's always led by example. He'd put his head down and go to work whenever things got tough. He's never afraid to speak up. He'd get mad at me if I was being lazy. If we were farming, he'd do the work and not goof around too much."

Cole's often-serious and driven personality is similar to that of former UND star Jonathan Toews, who captained the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups.

"There's a drive in both of them," said associate coach Matt Smaby, who captained Toews at UND. "There's an intensity in both of them. Some people portray that. Some people have it. Cole has it, just like Jonny did. He's always hungry and looking to get better and grow. He's open to ideas. He wants to win. That's such an important part in being a leader as well."

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald

Last year's loss in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals irked Reschny, who is driven to return and win this season.

He already has four goals and eight points in six games as the No. 8-ranked Fighting Hawks prepare to face No. 4-ranked Michigan State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Saturday night.

"Cole's got a fire to him this year," UND general manager Bryn Chyzyk said. "I think he keeps our group on edge. He was one of the guys who was very vocal after the game at Minnesota, and I love that from Cole. Hopefully, he can drive the bus for us moving forward with that kind of intensity and using it in a positive manner."

The brothers are all in different spots now.

Austin is a third-year forward for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans in Calgary. Anderson, a defenseman, plays for the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA team.

"We're calling all the time, texting, not a day goes by we don't touch base with each other," Austin said. "Me, Cole and Anderson have a group chat. We're always joking or sending anything interesting — nature, animals — we're all intrigued by the same stuff."

Austin is planning a January trip to see Cole play in Ralph Engelstad Arena for the first time.

"I'm extremely proud and honored to call him my brother," Austin said.

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game

Who: No. 8 UND vs. No. 4 Michigan State.Where: H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas.When: 7:07 p.m. Saturday.TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).Stream: NCHC TV.