‘Things could change positively or negatively’: Regina Pats prepare for possible season

With COVID-19 cases rising across Canada, the WHL season start date remains up in the air, but a few members of the Regina Pats continue to hold out hope for a season.

The WHL set a start date for Jan. 8, but with provinces putting a temporary end to sports to deal with a surge in cases, that may once again see a change.

Pats general manager John Paddock said he feels like the league will find a way to go this year, but it’s ultimately up to the virus and how well it’s contained.

“The last information that we have is what we had before. I think that just doesn’t go with a grain of salt, but I think since August we’ve all had to understand that we need to be flexible, adaptable, and that things could change positively or negatively at the drop of a hat,” Paddock told media during a video-conference call Thursday.

One player uniquely affected is Pats forward Connor Bedard. The 15-year-old hockey phenom was the first-ever WHL player given exceptional status by Hockey Canada, meaning he could play a full season as a 15-year-old.

But with the pandemic putting hockey on pause in Canada, Bedard spent some time training in Sweden with the HV71 under-20 team.

“Going over to Sweden was a really cool experience for me, and it’s not every day that you get to go that far away and play hockey. It was definitely really cool and it will help me for this upcoming year,” Bedard said from his home in B.C.

“I played a few games, but unfortunately the season there got delayed until January so I came back (to Canada). It was good learning new things (and) new skills. I think it helped me.

“Being on a schedule made it a lot more normal. I’m at the rink all day. The language is a bit weird and talking to your buddies (in Canada), they’re just going to bed and you’re waking up for school. It’s pretty cool to be in a new place and seeing a lot of different things but a lot of my day was just consumed with being at the rink.”

It wasn’t just the hockey that was different for Bedard, who had to adjust to an entirely new culture as well.

“When you ski with the poles, they would do that on the street. It was one of the weirdest things I’ve seen and it’s really common so that really caught my eye. It was weird for me but I guess it’s normal (there),” Bedard said.

Now that he’s back home, Bedard is adjusting to life in Canada amid new restrictions. He’s still training almost every day of the week, but now needs to wear a mask when he’s at the gym.

“It’s a lot tougher. Your mouth and nose get a bit dry but you can maybe take it off for a second if you’re doing a max set to be able to breath. But when you put it on, it’s pretty tough,” Bedard said.

And while he didn’t shut down another trip to Sweden or elsewhere to play if the WHL doesn’t get going, Bedard said he would prefer to stay in Canada to play for the Pats.

“Obviously we’re still planning for that start, but anything can happen. I’m just trying to train for that start, but if it doesn’t, I’m just going to keep training and see what happens,” Bedard said.