What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
It didn’t take long for Connor Bedard to start terrorizing WHL goaltenders again.
Playing in his first game with his club team after returning from the 2023 world junior hockey championship, the 17-year-old Regina Pats forward recorded four goals and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen (21-12-3-1) on Sunday at the Brandt Centre.
The six points in the game was a WHL career high for the North Vancouver product. It extended his point-scoring streak to 28 straight games and gave him a league-best 70 points.
“It was good for us. It’s a pretty tight (playoff) race,” Bedard said. “That was a big win.”
Pats head coach-GM John Paddock said he’s accustomed to Bedard having a big impact in meaningful games.
“You just get used to it,” said Paddock, whose team improved to 19-19-1-1. “The B.C. trip, he rose (to the occasion) all the time … He seems to find a way to have a prominent result in the outcome.”
While Bedard only returned from the world junior tournament on Friday, he said there was no doubt in his mind he was going to suit up for the game against Calgary.
“Calgary is a close team in the standings. I wanted to go out there and try to help us and for me, I don’t think I ever thought about not playing,” Bedard said.
Bedard lit the hockey world ablaze with his play at the world junior tournament in Moncton, N.B. and Halifax.
The projected top pick in the 2023 NHL draft set Canadian world junior records for career goals (17) and points (36), as well as points in a single tournament (23) and assists in a single tournament (14). He was named the tournament’s MVP as Canada won gold.
“Every game, every goal, it was crazy. It was nothing I had ever experienced – 11,000 people (in the Halifax arena) having fun and screaming all the time. It was electric and that whole city supported us so much,” Bedard said.
The game in Regina was Bedard’s first home contest since Nov. 12. The Pats were on the road for Grey Cup and Agribition and then he had his world junior stint.
“It was nice. I missed it; it’s my favourite rink. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve been able to be here and what a turnout for us tonight. It was energetic and exciting for us,” Bedard said.
The 4,761 fans at the Brandt Centre was the Pats’ largest home crowd of the season.
“I don’t think I look at it as they are coming to watch me. They come to watch the Pats. It’s not about the one man, it’s about the group,” Bedard said.
“If people are coming, that’s great. We want to have this building rocking and we want to hear (the fans) and that brings a lot of energy to our group and if people want to come, that’s great.”
Paddock admitted it was nice to see the fans at the game.
“I think over the course of the season, if we’re having five or six thousand (fans), that probably means five to six (more) wins,” Paddock said. “That sounds corny, but it does (mean that). It picks up the team in certain times.”
While Bedard was excited to get back on the ice in Regina, Paddock said the Pats’ star has earned a break.
“He’s going to stay away from the rink here for at least two days, if not three days, and get some rest,” Paddock said. “He needs some rest now. He needs to get away from it.”
The Pats’ other goals Sunday came from Alexander Suzdalev and Tanner Howe. Calgary’s goals came from Jacob Wright and Carson Wetch.
The Pats are to return to action Friday, when they play host to the Saskatoon Blades (26-6-2-1). Paddock said defenceman Stanislav Svozil, who won silver at the world juniors for Czechia, is expected to be in Regina’s lineup in that game.