Bedard, a potential No. 1 pick for the 2023 NHL Draft, is the seventh player to be selected to play for Canada at the World Juniors as a 16-year-old, joining
Wayne Gretzky
(1978),
Eric Lindros
(1989), Jason Spezza (2000),
Jay Bouwmeester
(2000), Sidney Crosby (2004) and Connor McDavid (2014).
"It's pretty crazy to hear myself with those guys," Bedard said. "I think just dreaming of playing in this tournament and obviously getting the opportunity at the age I am, that is pretty special. Hearing my name in the same sentence as those guys is pretty crazy.
"I wasn't trying to put too much pressure on myself given how much talent there is in the country and how many guys could be on this team. It's just a dream come true, and coming into the camp I really wanted to make it."
RELATED: [Canada announces roster for IIHF World Junior Championship]
Canada announced its roster for the WJC on Sunday after a four-day selection camp.
Bedard scored a Canada-best six points (two goals, four assists) in two exhibition games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars.
"He's got it all," said Montreal Canadiens defenseman prospect
Kaiden Guhle
, one of three returnees for Canada from the 2021 WJC. "He's a good skater. He's got an unbelievable release. He can pull the puck, push the puck, he can shoot it from anywhere on his body, and he's got good hands too, good vision. He's an all-around great player."
Bedard has scored 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games for Regina of the Western Hockey League this season. He scored 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 15 games as a 15-year-old last season after becoming the first player to be granted exceptional player status into the WHL in March 2020.
He also helped Canada win the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He was second among all players with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games, including a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win against Russia in the championship game.
"Being able to play in the WHL
(2013), Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno (2015) and Shane Wright of Kington of the Ontario Hockey League (2019). Wright, a candidate to be the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, also will play for Canada at the WJC.
Bedard's lofty accomplishments are earning him comparisons to McDavid and Crosby.
"It's pretty cool," said Bedard, who skated with McDavid once last summer. "I'm young and McDavid is like two points per game in the NHL], so that's definitely high expectations. It's definitely pretty humbling to hear my name in the same sentence as those guys. It's definitely pretty cool."
Bedard was the youngest player at Canada selection camp but his age doesn't limit his effectiveness, according to Detroit Red Wings defenseman prospect
[Donovan Sebrango
.
"He's a great player," Sebrango said. "I'm not sure what he's ever going to do. He's got a wide range of skill and different tools he can use. It's definitely challenging. He keeps you guessing. He's a great player and he's got a great toolbox."
Bedard is expected to be the youngest player to participate in the 2022 WJC but likely won't be the only top 2023 draft prospect there.
Russia forward Matvei Michkov, considered to be Bedard's chief rival to go No. 1, was named to Russia's tournament roster Tuesday.
Michkov has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 13 games with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League. He led all players at the 2021 U-18s with 12 goals and 16 points in seven games.
"It seems like he's got a 'Michigan' goal every couple of days, so you kind of see that and just see the stats he's putting up," Bedard said. "It's incredible and there's so many guys across the world for my age group that are just so talented. So you see stuff like that, but I wouldn't really say I keep tabs on him."
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