“Will be good going into Regina” – Projected No. 1 in 2023 draft Connor Bedard set for World Junior Championship season
Follow Us
Connor Bedard
Canadian junior ice hockey player Connor Bedard is set to begin his most important season with his biggest tournament so far. Projected to be the No. 1 selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 17-year-old forward will take a top-line role at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place.
Following this, he will be playing with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. Talking about his previous performance, Bedard had a goal and an assist in Canada’s first game of the tournament on Wednesday, a 5-2 win against Latvia as the youngster didn’t look out of place in that role.
“I think playing in this tournament is going to help me a lot this year,” Bedard said on Tuesday, as quoted by NHL.com. “Playing against the best in the world is always good for you and I think it’ll be good for me going into Regina.”
Also Read | “Everything changed in an instant” – Hockey Hall of Famer Borje Salming diagnosed with ALS
“Bedard is pretty strong for his age”
The North Vancouver Bedard is the only player to be awarded exceptional status by the WHL, allowing him in the league as an underaged player at 15. Later, he also became the youngest player at the World Junior Championship to score four goals in a game and had five points (four goals, one assist) in two games.
“I’ve had a few months since that tournament and you get older and stronger and things like that, but I think the goal still remains the same,” Bedard said. “I’m just as excited now as I was then to get started.”
“[Bedard] had a full summer to work out, so obviously he’s gotten a little stronger,” Canadian skipper McTavish said. “He was only 16 the last time and young kids are going to get stronger. It’s crazy he’s only 17 now, but he’s pretty strong for his age and that’s probably the biggest thing I noticed.”
Also Read | “A truly special young man” – Twitter along with Oilers mourns the death of Ben Stelter, team’s No. 1 fan
Also Read | “I had goosebumps” – Jacob Trouba announced as New York Rangers captain, first since Ryan McDonagh in 2018
Do follow us on: Google news | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Sachin Arora
(2527 Articles Published)