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Connor Bedard set to face sold-out crowd in Red Deer

Central Alberta has Bedard fever
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Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard fights for position against Red Deer Rebels Kai Uchacz during a matchup in October earlier this season. (Photo by Rob Wallator/ Red Deer Rebels)

In front of a Rebels franchise record-setting crowd at the Peavey Mart Centrium Tuesday night, Regina Pats’ phenom put on a show.

Despite a 6-5 OT loss to Red Deer, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft finished with a goal and two assists.

His goal came in the first period when he managed to sneak behind the Rebels defence for a breakaway. He deked goaltender Rhett Stoesser and placed it top shelf.

In the second period showed off his playmaking abilities with a cross-ice saucer pass that went over three sticks before landing on the tape of Alexander Suzdalev who buried the opportunity.

Bedard alone has put up video-game-type numbers leading the league in goals, assists, and points. With 88 points in 35 games, the young man has averaged over two points per game and is only 12 away from surpassing his total from last season.

“I just want to keep trying to make plays and play my game. There are still a lot of games left and I want to play well in those. For our team we’ve got a lot of big games this trip and throughout the rest of the year,” he added.

Becoming one of the most highly-touted hockey prospects in recent memory hasn’t come easy for the North Vancouver product. He said growing up in B.C. working on his shot was something he practiced regularly in his yard.

Even to this day when he heads home to see family, he’s honing his craft.

“I’m out there for a good amount of time every day and just work on that. It’s something that I enjoy doing and it’s a big part of my game,” he said.

“I feel like it’s what some people would recognize me for and for myself it’s something I’ve put a lot of pride into and worked on a lot.”

The focus for Bedard remains a day-by-day process to get better. Despite posting statistics that are downright astonishing even to the most casual fan, Bedard believes he still has to prove himself.

And more importantly, he wants to do everything he can to get the Regina Pats into a playoff spot. Currently, they remain in the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot in eighth place with a 22-21-1-1 record.

“From five to 10th place is crazy tight in the East. It’s a battle so for us our main goal is getting in and trying to keep moving up the ladder,” he said.

Every point from here on out for Regina is extremely important with the teams placed seven through 10 separated between just four points.

“That’s pretty close when you’ve still got as many games as all of us do. It’s going to be a battle… It’s going to be that close and every game is so important so for us we just want to focus on tonight for now and every game moving forward.”

This will be the Rebels’ last game for a while as they head out on a road trip through the United States that begins in Spokane, Washington on Saturday. They will return home on Friday, Feb. 17 to take on the Kamloops Blazers.



Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
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