50 is nifty: Pats’ Bedard finishes season with record-setting performance

Connor Bedard’s 16-year-old season was one for the ages.

The Regina Pats centre became the youngest WHL player ever to score 50 goals in a season Sunday, when he scored twice in a 7-4 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Brandt Centre. It was the final game of the 2021-22 regular season for both teams.

Bedard’s first goal of the game, at 13:50 of the third period, was his 50th of the season.

It was an accomplishment that he was proud to achieve.

“Obviously was one away for the past three games and you know I was probably gripping my stick a little tight,” Bedard said. “I was pretty happy to see the joy of everyone on the bench.

“That was a really cool moment for me.”

Dan Lucas (57 goals for the 1974-75 Victoria Cougars) and Glen Goodall (63 goals for the 1986-87 Seattle Thunderbirds) also reached the 50-goal plateau in their 16-year-old seasons, but both had turned 17 by the time they did so. Bedard won’t turn 17 until July 17.

The scoring didn’t stop for Bedard on Sunday, adding his 51st goal of the season into an empty net. He finished one goal off the league lead, trailing only Ben King of the Red Deer Rebels.

“It might have been the loudest empty netter I’ve ever seen,” Bedard said as he recounted his final goal of the season. “The fans were unbelievable, just the support I felt was pretty special.”

(Logan Stein/980 CJME)

Bedard added three assists against the Warriors to finish the season with 100 points, good for fourth in the league’s scoring race. Red Deer’s Arshdeep Bains won the scoring title with 112 points, while King had 105 and Logan Stankoven of the Kamloops Blazers had 104.

Bedard had 40 goals and 45 assists in the 42 games he played after Nov. 28.

As a 15-year-old last season, Bedard had 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 games in the COVID-shortened season, which was held in a bubble in Regina. This season, he broke the Pats’ records for goals by a 16-year-old (previously held by Jeff Friesen) and points by a 16-year-old (formerly held by Doug Wickenheiser).

Cole Dubinsky added two goals for the Pats on Sunday, while Zane Rowan, Logan Nijhoff and Tanner Howe added singles.

Bedard said it was difficult to see Nijhoff and the other 20-year-olds exhaust their WHL eligibility, saying there will be some big shoes to fill.

“I think we are all very proud of what they have accomplished,” Bedard said. “It’s tough to see them go.”

51 goals, 100 points #MarchOn pic.twitter.com/dwu6JDtZS1

— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 18, 2022

The Pats finished the season with a 27-36-3-2 record, tying them for ninth in the Eastern Conference with the Swift Current Broncos (26-35-5-2) and Calgary Hitmen (25-34-7-2). That trio finished two points back of the Prince Albert Raiders (28-35-4-1) in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.

Bedard shared his excitement for next season, adding the experience the Pats gained this year will go a long way in helping them push for a playoff spot next season.

“Obviously every game, you gain more experience and learn more about the league,” he said. “I’m excited for the future.”

Denton Mateychuk scored twice Sunday for the Warriors, who got their other goals from Riley Niven and Eric Alarie. Moose Jaw finished fourth in the conference at 37-24-4-3.

The first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs will feature the Raiders facing the Winnipeg Ice, the Edmonton Oil Kings taking on the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer against the Brandon Wheat Kings, and the Warriors facing the Saskatoon Blades.

The Western Conference playoffs will begin with the Everett Silvertips facing the Vancouver Giants, Seattle taking on the Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops meeting the Spokane Chiefs, and the Portland Winterhawks tangling with the Prince George Cougars.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Logan Stein