CALGARY — Standing up at Peacock Theater in LA to acknowledge the realization of a dream, Cole Reschny’s first NHL moment included an emotional embrace with his mom, Allison.

It’s something everyone in his tight-knit family has been doing plenty of lately, as a recent breast cancer diagnosis for the mother of five has demonstrated the type of familial fight and determination that helped make Cole the Calgary Flames’ 18th-overall overall.

“She’s a battler,” said Reschny, whose embrace of a mother he affectionately referred to as a ‘young lady’ must’ve meant the world.

“She’s doing well right now and is starting radiation when we get back. 

“You just look at her, and how well she takes care of me and our family, and being the best mom and person… Seeing her go through that sucks, but I have no doubt she can beat this. We’ve all got her back and we’re a tight family.”

Allison’s determination is well-known in tiny Macklin, Sask. (pop. 1,200), where a rural upbringing for her kids included plenty of time on grandpa’s farm, which has served them all well character-wise.

“I can’t imagine having that on your shoulders, and then with the draft and what he’s going through everywhere, but it just says how high a character person he is,” said Craig Conroy of Reschny.

“It’s never easy, but I think he’s going to be there for her, and for us, now she’s part of the family here too. So anything we could do, we want to be there for them.”

Addressing the Flames’ biggest organizational need, Conroy drafted two centres in the opening round of Friday’s draft, and in both cases, the young men have been heavily influenced by their mothers.

The second was 32nd pick Cullen Potter, whose mother, Jenny, was a four-time Olympic medalist for the U.S. hockey team.  

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