For the primary time in his younger WHL profession, 16-year-old Regina Pats ahead Connor Bedard will get to play a regular-season recreation in entrance of followers when his staff opens the season on Friday night time in Prince Albert towards the Raiders. The Raiders will then make the return journey to Regina for the Pats residence opener on Saturday at 1 p.m.
“It’s undoubtedly thrilling,” Bedard mentioned. “Clearly, (it’s) going to be my first recreation in entrance of a giant crowd and lots of people will hopefully come.”
Actually, there’ll seemingly be many nights when followers will probably be flocking to no matter rink Bedard is enjoying in, as they hope to get a glimpse of a participant who may very well be the highest decide within the 2023 NHL Draft. Final season, in Bedard’s rookie yr, no followers had been allowed within the Brandt Centre, the place each Saskatchewan and Manitoba-based staff performed 24 video games in an East Division hub schedule.
“I feel we’re all actually trying ahead to that and getting followers again,” Bedard mentioned. “Final yr with nobody there, that’s one thing all of us missed.”
In his rookie yr, Bedard put up 28 factors in 15 video games earlier than leaving the Pats to swimsuit up for Crew Canada on the World Below-18 Hockey Championship. And on the time of his departure, he was main all the league in scoring.
Whereas he hasn’t publicly said his targets for this season, there’s little doubt Bedard, who turned the primary participant in league historical past to be granted distinctive standing, is hoping to proceed that ascent.
“I put plenty of strain on myself,” Bedard mentioned. “I’ve excessive expectations for myself and for the staff.”
This pre-season, Bedard tied teammate Cole Dubinsky for the league lead with 10 factors in six video games, when the Pats went 3-2-1. And after three straight years of ending beneath the .500 mark within the common season, the Pats imagine this may very well be the yr they make themselves right into a contender.
“The exhibition season was good for us,” mentioned Pats head coach Dave Struch. “We grew rather a lot as a bunch and we noticed a lot of enhancements in our system and particular person growth.
“We’ve got plenty of ability and I feel we generally is a actually good staff,” Bedard mentioned. “The principle objective is simply to win.”
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