What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
3h ago
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The Regina Pats have been struggling to build momentum of late, with Connor Bedard and Stanislav Svozil currently representing Canada and Czechia, respectively, at the world junior hockey championship.
Pats play-by-play announcer Dante De Caria says they were only able to get one win in their last three WHL games and were heavily outplayed.
Regina is to visit the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday, the same day that Canada is to face the United States and Czechia is to meet Sweden in semifinals at the world junior tournament in Halifax.
“I think this team cannot wait to have both Bedard and Svozil back from world juniors,” De Caria said of the Pats. “They drive the bus, move the puck up the ice, provide energy (and) provide more confidence to the team.”
With Bedard and Svozil in the lineup, the Pats are a force to be reckoned with, De Caria added.
They’re currently seventh in the Eastern Conference, six points behind the fourth-place Moose Jaw Warriors.
According to De Caria, Bedard has really elevated his game at the world junior level.
“I’m seeing a different Connor Bedard and I think this is the Bedard that Pats fans are going to see when he comes back and plays for this team in the second half of the season,” he said.
De Caria doesn’t think Bedard — the presumptive favourite to be the first pick overall in the 2023 NHL draft — will be playing junior hockey next year.
“He is going to be in the NHL as an 18-year-old, just like Connor McDavid did, John Tavares did, and Steven Stamkos did,” De Caria added. “Those are all exceptional players and Connor Bedard is in the same category as those players.”
Off the ice, Bedard is a down-to-earth person, even though he receives a lot of fanfare and media attention.
“I think he’s a leader in that locker room and I think he’s just a tremendous teammate to everyone,” De Caria said. “This guy treats everybody the same.”
As for Wednesday’s game in Halifax, De Caria says the United States will be Canada’s toughest opponent so far.
“Even if Czechia or Sweden moves on, (the Canadians) have already faced those two teams before and (those teams) are not as strong as the United States,” he added.
There will be live coverage of the Canada-U.S. semifinal match on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM starting at 5 p.m.