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How did the Flames’ prospects perform at the World Junior Summer Showcase?
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
Ryan Pike
Aug 3, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 10, 2025, 14:28 EDT
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The 2025 edition of USA Hockey’s World Junior Summer Showcase concluded on Sunday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden began their preparations for the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament, held over the winter holidays.
The Calgary Flames were represented by four prospects in this year’s Summer Showcase. So, how did they do? And how are they trending in regards to the upcoming World Juniors?

Zayne Parekh, Canada

This one is short but sweet: Parekh tweaked a lingering minor injury from the tail-end of the 2024-25 season and the decision was made to give him recovery time rather than push through it for the sake of a summer under-20 exhibition event.
Despite not playing at all in the Summer Showcase’s games, Parekh is a strong contender for a Canadian national junior team roster spot on the strength of two really, really good seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit. The only thing that could keep a maple leaf off Parekh’s chest when Boxing Day rolls around is if he’s got a Flaming C on it instead.
If Parekh’s an important part of the Flames’ lineup by December, he probably won’t be released for the tournament.

Henry Mews, Canada

On the stats line, Mews was decent enough, with three assists over five games. However, the discourse regarding his performance is a bit mixed, which itself probably reflects his overall game. He was praised by analysts (such as Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis) for how he performed in the Canadian intersquad game, but he had a few miscues in subsequent games.
Nobody’s perfect and it’s summer hockey, so grain of salt and all that, but considering how competitive roster spots look to be, Mews’ stock is probably as high as it was when he arrived.

Cole Reschny, Canada

The World Juniors has built a reputation as a “19-year-old tournament” over the years, because teams tend to skew their rosters towards older eligible players. That said, Reschny, an 18-year-old who was recently drafted by the Flames, really impressed onlookers at the Summer Showcase.
He was tied for the team-lead on Canada in points, and he centred a really effective trio in the event playing between Chicago’s Sasha Boisvert and Montreal’s Michael Hage. He drew praise from Ellis following Sunday’s finale: “While I wouldn’t call him a lock to make this team, Hockey Canada loves how good he has been internationally the last couple years.”

Cullen Potter, United States

Speaking of 18-year-olds that impressed, let’s turn our attention to the other first-rounder the Flames had back in June. Potter was, by all accounts, consistently noticeable for positive reasons in the United States’ games at the Summer Showcase.
After day two of the event, Ellis had this assessment: “I really like Potter’s game, and I think he’ll make the World Junior team in December.”
The 2026 World Junior Championship runs Dec. 26, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. We should see roster announcements in early December.

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