Pats’ Bedard cops WHL player-of-the-week award

Regina Pats centre Connor Bedard got an award and an assist Monday.

The WHL named Bedard the player of the week after he recorded nine goals and 17 points in four games. He initially had 16 points in that span, but the league credited him with another helper from Saturday’s victory in Moose Jaw.

The Pats’ captain had two goals and two assists Wednesday in Regina’s 6-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. He followed that Friday with three goals and two helpers in a 9-5 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors.

On Saturday, Bedard recorded his ninth hat trick of the season and added three assists in a 7-3 win in Moose Jaw. The next night, he had a goal and an assist in Regina’s 4-2 victory over the host Saskatoon Blades.

His goal Sunday was his 70th of the season, making him the first Pats player to reach that plateau since Dale Derkatch had 72 in the 1983-84 campaign.

That season, Derkatch was 19 years old and reached his goal total in 62 regular-season games. Bedard is only 17 years old and has played just 55 regular-season games this season.

Bedard also has 72 assists, meaning he’s the first WHL player to reach the 142-point mark in a single campaign since Corey Lyons (63 goals, 79 assists) got there during the 1989-90 season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2020 WHL draft and the first player granted exceptional status in the league, has recorded 133 goals and 137 assists in 132 regular-season contests with the Pats.

Regina has two games remaining on its regular-season schedule — Friday in Saskatoon and Saturday at home to the Prince Albert Raiders. The Pats and Blades are on target to meet in the first round of the WHL playoffs.