Bedard, projected No. 1 NHL draft pick, plays Blazers during first visit to Kamloops
Nov 30, 2022 | 12:09 PM
Chad Klassen
KAMLOOPS — The biggest superstar in junior hockey is in Kamloops tonight. Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NHL Draft, plays the Blazers at the Sandman Centre with the Regina Pats in town.
The game is sold out with a few standing room tickets available. All of the previous three games in Langley, Victoria and Tuesday night (Nov. 29) in Kelowna were sold out.
“[The full buildings are] definitely for our whole group, not just myself,” said Bedard. “When you’re playing in front of six, seven thousand people, it’s a lot of fun. It brings a lot of energy, so we’ve had a lot of fun with it and it’s been pretty exciting every night.”
Bedard has six points during the first three games of the road trip, including an assist on Regina’s game-winning goal in overtime Tuesday against the Rockets. He had a hat-trick in Victoria.
Bedard has close relationships with some of the Blazers, playing with Logan Stankoven on two gold-medal winning teams and also playing minor hockey with Blazers forward Fraser Minten.
“It’ll be a lot of fun. I think I know five guys pretty well on this team from minor hockey and obviously with Stanks with Hockey Canada. It’s fun playing against guys you know and you’re buddies with, so we’ve been talking about it a bit. I think we’re all excited,” he said.
Bedard and Stankoven won two gold medals together at the U18s and this summer’s world juniors. Bedard, the best player in the league and points leader, had some high praise for his former Team Canada teammate.
“It’ll be exciting. I think he’s probably the best player in the league, so to match up against him is going to be fun and a good challenge for us,” Bedard said.
Bedard was then asked, “Sorry, did you say Logan Stankoven’s the best player in the league. I thought that was you?”
He responded, “He’s nuts, what he’s doing. I try to watch him a lot. What he’s done in this league is crazy, so I wouldn’t say I’m better than him, but it’s going to be a fun game.”
