Bedard East Division Player of the Year for second straight season
Regina, Sask. – The Western Hockey League announced Wednesday that Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard has been named the Eastern Division Player of the Year.
Bedard, 17, led the WHL in goals (71) and points (143), and was tied for the lead in assists (72). He also led the way in shots on goal (360), points per-game (2.51), goals per-game (1.24), and finished tied for first in game-winning-goals with 11. All this while playing in just 57 games.
Bedard led the Pats in plus/minus (+39), face-off win percentage (53.6) and power play points (45). The North Vancouver, B.C. product also tied for the longest point-streak in the WHL this season, going 35 straight contests with at least a point, surpassing his previous high of 21 set last season. During the 35-game streak he scored 44 goals and 46 assists for 90 points.
The 5-foot-10, 185 lb. forward tied Rob Brown (1985-86) for the highest points per-game by a 17-year-old in WHL history, as well as the third-most goals and points by any U18 player in league history.
In the post-season, Bedard elevated his game even more, recording 20 points (10G-20A) in seven games, helping the Pats reach game seven of the first-round against the Saskatoon Blades who finished the year with 101 points to Regina’s 72 points.
Internationally, Bedard won his second straight gold medal at the World Juniors in January, leading the tournament in points (23), goals (9) and assists (14) in seven games. He owns the Canadian record for goals in a World Junior Championship with 17, passing the mark held by Jordan Eberle (14).
Bedard also became the leader in career points by a Canadian player, passing Eric Lindros’ record of 31 from 1990 to 1992 as well as the Canadian WJC single-tournament mark owned by Dale McCourt (1977) and Brayden Schenn (2011) at 18. The produced 36 career points at the World Juniors.
The 2023 Draft eligible prospect is ranked first amongst all North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 10. The winner of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy awarded to the WHL Player of the Year will be announced Wednesday, May 10.
WHL Player of the Year Nominees
B.C. Division – Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C.) – Kamloops Blazers
Central Division – Kai Uchacz (De Winton, Alta.) – Red Deer Rebels
East Division – Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Regina Pats
U.S. Division – Jackson Berezowski (Yorkton, Sask.) – Everett Silvertips
