LANGLEY, British Columbia -- Connor Bedard said he's looking forward to his homecoming in front of family and friends at the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Langley Events Centre on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN, RDS).
Bedard, born and raised in North Vancouver, 45 minutes away, expects to have a big cheering section working his offensive magic for Team Red.
"I'll have a good amount of people there," Bedard said. "I think some relatives. Obviously my sister, my parents and some buddies for sure. I should have a decent crowd."
Bedard spends most summers training back home and said it's great that the game and hockey in the area will take the spotlight.
"It's awesome," he said. "I think we're all pretty pumped. Me, Connor Levis (Vancouver), Luca Cagnoni (Burnaby, British Columbia), Lukas Dragicevic (Richmond, British Columbia), Andrew Cristall (Vancouver), Zach Benson (Chilliwack, British Columbia) ... so many guys from this area who were invited to this game and, obviously, the hockey here is so great.
"I was so lucky to be from here, grow up in those programs (North Vancouver Storm; West Van Academy), so to have the game here is pretty special."
The right-shot center with Regina of the Western Hockey League is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel and is one of 39 players participating in the annual showcase of Canadian Hockey League players.
Since 1996, the event has featured 15 players who were later selected No. 1 in the NHL Draft:
Alexis Lafreniere
(New York Rangers, 2020), Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils, 2017), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers, 2015), Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers, 2014), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche, 2013), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Oilers, 2011), Taylor Hall (Oilers, 2010), John Tavares (New York Islanders, 2009), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning, 2008), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks, 2007), Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2003), Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets, 2002), Vincent Lecavalier (Lightning, 1998), Joe Thornton (Boston Bruins, 1997), and Chris Phillips (Ottawa Senators, 1996).
Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) has 81 points (39 goals, 42 assists) in 32 straight games with Regina after not getting a point in its season opener Sept. 23.
The longest point streak in the WHL is held by forward Jeff Nelson of Prince Albert in 1990-91 (56 games, 108 points). The longest streak by a Regina player is 47 games, shared by teammates Wally Schreiber (99 points) and Jock Callander (141 points) in 1981-82.
In five games with Regina since his return from the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Bedard has 17 points (12 goals, five assists). He led all players at the 2023 IIHF WJC with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) and was named the tournament's top forward and most valuable player, helping Canada win a second straight gold medal.
Here's a look at his season:
(WHL rank in parentheses)
Games played: 33
Goals-Assists-Points: 39 (1st) - 42 (1st) - 81 (1st)
Points per game: 2.45 (1st)
Game-winning goals: 8 (1st)
Power-play points: 31 (2nd)
Short-handed goals: 4 (tied for 3rd)
Shots: 221 (1st)
Plus/Minus rating: +26 (13th)
Penalty minutes: 40
Face-off winning percentage: 52.2, 365-for-699
Upcoming games: Jan. 29: Medicine Hat; Jan. 31: at Red Deer; Feb. 1: at Calgary
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report
---
Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class
