NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Regina Pats star Connor Bedard leads the way to the bench to celebrate his first period goal against Medicine Hat in a 5-1 Tigers win on Sunday in front of a sold-out crowd at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
While most hockey fans dream about their favourite NHL team’s lineup with Connor Bedard at centre, the superstar remains focused on one thing: making the playoffs with Regina Pats.
Bedard and the Pats were in Medicine Hat on Sunday and, like a majority of Regina’s games since the World Juniors, it was sold out. There were 6,178 fans in Co-op Place for the Connor Bedard show and he rewarded them early. The 17-year-old scored less than two minutes into the game before the Tigers ultimately walked away with the 5-1 win.
Sunday’s contest wrapped up a four-game stretch of games in the Central division for Regina, as the Pats and Bedard had 7,287 fans in Red Deer on Tuesday, 17,223 in Calgary on Wednesday and 5,378 in Lethbridge on Friday. All were sellout games, something Bedard says he’s come to embrace.
“It’s obviously cool,” Bedard said after Sunday’s game. “When you’re out there it’s nice to have that energy. We’re pretty prepared for that when we’re on the road or at home. It’s been pretty cool.”
Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins described Bedard as an unbelievable player.
“We didn’t slow him down much, he made lots of plays, he could have had four or five,” Desjardins said. “He was so close, he had an open net and hit his own guy. He’s a hard guy to slow down, he just is. So I thought our guys did a good job.”
The sell-outs come with good reason, hockey fans want a chance to watch Bedard do what he can at the price of a junior hockey ticket before he makes the jump to the NHL. He’s touted as the first overall pick in this year’s entry draft and has the numbers to prove it.
The North Vancouver product has 45 goals and 91 points in just 38 WHL games this season. He’s coming off a nine-goal, 23-point performance in seven World Junior games that propelled Canada to its second straight gold medal.
With his exceptional status and performances on the world stage, the hype around Bedard has grown as the hockey season progresses with media requests in every away city and people asking for autographs or pictures at every stop.
He says with all the attention, he just keeps his mind on being a Pat.
“Try to focus on each day and do what I can obviously to help us win,” Bedard said. “For myself, I want to play well and I want to win and that’s where my goal is every day. Whether it’s in practice or obviously in a game. That’s what I focus on and try not to think too far into things.”
Even with the connection as players to receive exceptional status, he says he doesn’t think about being compared to NHL players like Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid.
“Those are two guys that have accomplished so much and for me, I haven’t played a game in the NHL yet,” Bedard said. “So it’s pretty crazy to think about but for me it’s something that I don’t pay much attention to. I’m trying to focus on what we’re doing here and how to improve as a player.”
While Bedard generated a lot of discussion ahead of Sunday’s game in the Hat, Tigers fans were also excited to see the 2022 WHL first overall pick Gavin McKenna face off against Bedard, who went No. 1 in 2020.
The two have a bit of relationship and are distant relatives through family marriage. Bedard says he’s been tracking McKenna and will continue to throughout his career.
“He’s a special player and it’s pretty cool to see what he’s been doing,” Bedard said. “I’m sure he’s excited to be in the league full time next year. I’ve been kind of following his career so far, playing against him was fun and our families know each other a bit.
“He’s someone that I’ll be following and he will have a huge impact on this league.”
He says his advice for the 15-year-old is just to enjoy the league.
“For him it’s just his first year, everything’s new and when he comes out, I’m sure he was pretty excited and nervous,” Bedard said. “I think the main thing is enjoy it, it’s been something I think all the guys in the league wanted to do since they were kids and it’s no different for someone like myself or him. I’m sure he’s having fun and it’s cool what he’s doing.”
