If there were any questions if Connor Bedard would continue his sensational season junior season into the WHL playoffs, they were quickly answered on Friday night.
In the Regina Pats’ first playoff game since 2018, and the first of Bedard’s career, the 17-year-old phenom had two goals and an assist to lead his sixth-seeded squad to a 6-1 Game 1 win over the No. 3 Saskatoon Blades.
In front of 10,265 fans in Saskatoon, Bedard got his night started with a highlight-reel goal midway through the second period. On the break, Bedard split two Blades defenders and was able to somehow roof the puck as he was falling down.
The goal was one of Bedard’s best of the season, and it’s not like he doesn’t have a lot to choose from. He had 71 goals in 57 regular season games to help Regina secure the sixth seed in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
He would add an assist on Stanislav Svozil’s third-period tally, then score his second goal of the contest late to help secure the victory for the Pats and give them the 1-0 series lead.
BEDARD’S REGULAR SEASON TOTALS: 57 GP, 71 G, 72 A, 143 Pts.
BEDARD’S PLAYOFF TOTALS: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 Pts.
PATS’ RECORD: Lead best-of-7 series 1-0 over Blades
UP NEXT: The Pats and Blades will stay in Saskatoon for Game 2 on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CST
