Pats’ Bedard named WHL rookie of the year

The first player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status was named the league’s top first-year player Wednesday.

Regina Pats centre Connor Bedard was named the WHL’s rookie of the year after leading the league’s freshmen in scoring with 28 points during the 2020-21 season.

The 15-year-old — the first WHLer to be granted exceptional player status by the Canadian Hockey League — had 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 games in the East Division bubble at the Brandt Centre. He tied Ryker Evans for the Pats’ scoring lead.

“It was really cool. Coming in, (winning the award) was a goal of mine and something I wanted, so being able to get that was really special,” Bedard said during a media conference Wednesday. “It’s a team award. I had (forward Carson Denomie) getting me a lot of free assists but it’s definitely big for confidence.”

Bedard, a product of North Vancouver, B.C., was selected first overall by Regina in the 2020 WHL draft.

He went on to lead all WHL rookies in goals (12), points (28), shots on goal (70) and power-play points (10) and tied the Swift Current Broncos’ Matthew Ward for the rookie lead in assists (16).

Bedard was leading the WHL in scoring when he left to play for Canada at the IIHF U18 world championship in Texas. His final tally of 1.87 points per game was the second-best rate in the WHL.

“(This season) was a lot different in dorms (at the University of Regina) and then in a hotel and kind of just isolated from everything, but I think we were all just really grateful to play games and that took a lot of work from a lot of people,” Bedard said.

“(It was great) just getting to play games and meet everyone on the team and build as a team. We were always together so it was really good for meeting new guys and just getting comfortable with the team. So I think it was a really fun year and (I was) real happy we did get to play.”

“It’s another acknowledgement of who he is and what he’s done to this point in his young career as a person and player, and he’s being rewarded for it,” Pats head coach Dave Struch said of Bedard’s award.

“There’s going to be little victories like this throughout his career and they’re all part of his development. This will be one of those things for him to build on.”

Bedard is the sixth Pats player to be named WHL rookie of the year. He joins Jeff Friesen (1992-93), Dale Derkatch (1981-82), Dave Michayluk (1980-81), Dennis Sobchuk (1971-72), and Ron Garwasiuk (1966-67).