The hockey season is over for 15-year-old Connor Bedard but it ended with a bang.
After a successful stint with the Regina Pats, Bedard suited up for Canada at the World Under 18’s in Texas in what was his first time representing Hockey Canada. The tournament ended with Bedard showing the world why he is considered as perhaps the top pick in the 2023 draft as he had 14 points on seven goals and seven assists, including nine points in his final three games as Canada won gold
Bedard spoke with Derek Taylor on Saskatchewan’s #1 sports show, the Sportscage, on Tuesday afternoon to talk about the tournament and a backhand goal in the championship game that people are still buzzing about.
Bedard says the tournament was everything he thought it would be.
“As a kid, you grow up watching the World Juniors and the World Under-18’s and dreaming of being able to put the Canadian jersey on and represent your country.” Bedard said. “Being able to win was a crazy feeling. You are playing against some of the best players in the world that have great speed and skill so being able to compete against them and have success was fun.”
In the championship game, Bedard was stuffed on a penalty shot before coming back and scoring on a backhander to tie the game at 1. He admitted he was fuelled by the miss on the penalty shot and said that was a play where he usually wouldn’t shoot the puck.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CONNOR BEDARD. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/75WLJo1KHx
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 7, 2021
“I wasn’t too happy about missing the penalty shot or knowing the guy that scored their first goal was my guy so I wasn’t happy about that.” Bedard said. “I knew I had to get one to get us back in the game so I came down, but you know seven or eight times out of ten I try to drive wide on that play but this time I decided to let it go and was fortunate enough to have it go in.”
Bedard says he will spend his summer working out and get ready for his 16-year-old season with the Pats where it is expected he will be one of the top players in the league in what is hoped to be a regular regular season and not one impacted by COVID-19.
