REGINA — North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard recently added another item to his “youngest ever” list, becoming the youngest captain in the 105-year history of the Regina Pats Hockey Club.
Bedard was an alternate captain last year, becoming the youngest player in team history to wear a letter. Now at age 17 and two months, he’s got the “C” – and the club is ready to follow where he leads.
“In Connor, we could see very early that he sets a good example on and off the ice, as well as in his preparation, wanting to win, and that he was going to be a captain,” stated Pats general manager and head coach John Paddock in a release.
Bedard scored 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points in 62 games last season, finishing fourth in the Western Hockey League in points and second in goals. He’s off to a fast start this season, too, leading the WHL as of Oct. 5 with 11 points through six games.
Bedard is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. In 2020, he became the first player to earn exceptional status and early entry into the WHL, and he was named the 2020-21 WHL Rookie of the Year.
In August, Bedard helped Team Canada claim gold at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships, picking up four goals and four assists in seven games as Canada went on to defeat Finland 3-2 in overtime in the championship final.
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for June 28-29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
