Bedard snags WHL weekly and monthly awards

The first two playoff games of Connor Bedard’s WHL career have earned him an award.

The Regina Pats captain was named the league’s player of the week Monday after he recorded five goals and eight points in games 1 and 2 of a best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series against the Saskatoon Blades.

Later Monday, he also was named the WHL’s player of the month for March. Bedard led all WHL skaters with 32 points over 13 games in March.

On Friday, Bedard had two goals and an assist in Regina’s 6-1 victory in Saskatoon. That was the 17-year-old’s WHL playoff debut.

On Sunday, the projected top pick in the 2023 NHL draft had a hat trick and two assists as the Pats won 6-5 in overtime at SaskTel Centre.

After the weekend, Bedard was tied with Logan Stankoven of the Kamloops Blazers for the league’s playoff scoring lead.

During the month of March, Bedard had three hat tricks and recorded at least four points in a game five times.

Bedard led the WHL in scoring during the regular season with 143 points, including a league-high 71 goals.

The Pats are to play host to Saskatoon in Game 3 of their series on Tuesday. Game time at the Brandt Centre is set for 7 p.m.