The Connor Bedard tour comes to Prospera Place

The hype around Regina Pat forward Connor Bedard has been elevated over the last few days.

His team is making their bi-annual trip around the BC Division and in every arena they’ve played, they’ve sold out.

Most of those tickets have gone to spectators who want to watch the 17-year-old play in what will likely be his only time in west coast WHL rinks. He is projected as the top pick for the upcoming NHL draft in June.

The Pats were on the ice at Prospera Place Monday getting ready for yet another sellout crowd. That’s expected to be 6,400.

Bedard has relished the chance to play in his home province.

“It’s a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building and whenever you walk out there and you see every seat taken it’s definitely a lot of fun and fun for our whole group,” he told reporters before Monday’s practice session.

Bedard is currently on a 23-game point streak which brings his tally to 53 in just 24 games.

With all the talk about the NHL and World Junior Championships in the following months, Bedard has been keeping his attention to his current season and taking things one day at a time.

“We’re focused on what we’re doing in the room and with our team. That’s far down the road,” he said. “I only played 25 games or so this year but there’s still a lot of games to go. I’ve got to focus on now and what our team’s doing.”

Growing up in Vancouver, he has a close relationship with fellow lower mainlander and Rocket forward Andrew Cristall (currently tied for second in WHL scoring). He said it will be a great opportunity to play against him as they have been teammates for parts of their youth.

Bedard was asked if he might give his buddy a bump or two.

“Oh yeah. He won’t be my friend tomorrow,” he joked. “I don’t think either of us hit too much but if I got him lined up, I’ll try and give him a run.”

This sellout game Tuesday will be the first since the pandemic and will be an experience for all the Rocket players.

General Manager and President Bruce Hamilton said it will be special for the fans to watch an electrifying player like Bedard.

“We haven’t had a player like this in the WHL of this magnitude,” he said. “They’ve had a few in the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League but this guy’s got action written all over, and class, who’s preparing himself for the next level.”

The game will be broadcast on RocketFAN and 104.7 The Lizard with Regan Bartel.