Bedard named East Division player of the year, U18 Team Canada captain

The accolades keep rolling in for Connor Bedard after his record-setting 16-year-old season.

The Regina Pats centre was named the WHL’s East Division player of the year Thursday after recording 51 goals and 49 assists during the 2021-22 regular season. Bedard became the youngest WHL player ever to score 50 goals in a season.

After being named the East Division player of the year, Bedard now is nominated for the WHL’s Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the WHL player of the year.

Bedard was nominated along with Red Deer Rebels forward Ben King (West Division), Kamloops Blazers forward Logan Stankoven (B.C. Division) and Everett Silvertips defenceman Olen Zellweger (U.S. Division).

Bedard also was named an East Division first-team all-star Thursday. His Pats teammate, Ryker Evans, was named a second-team all-star at defence.

Bedard will now turn his attention to the IIHF under-18 world championship, where he will captain Team Canada as the only returning player from last year’s gold medal-winning squad.

He’s to be joined on the Canadian roster by Pats forward Tanner Howe as well as Pats prospect Matthew Wood.

Team Canada’s assistant captains for the tournament are Chicago Steel centre Adam Fantilli and Erie Otters defenceman Spencer Sova.

The tournament will run April 23 to May 1 in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany.

Connor Bedard (centre) will be Team Canada’s captain at the world under-18 hockey championship. Spencer Sova (left) and Adam Fantilli (right) are the assistant captains. (Hockey Canada)

Pats to pick sixth in WHL bantam draft

While Bedard and Howe are off representing Canada, the Pats will be looking to find their next exciting prospect in the WHL bantam draft.

In the 2021 draft, the Pats selected forward Jaxsin Vaughan 21st overall. In the second round, Regina took Jaxsin’s twin brother Corbin 30th overall.

The draft lottery took place Thursday and the Pats will pick sixth overall. The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the No. 1 pick.

The Swift Current Broncos will pick fifth, the Prince Albert Raiders are at No. 10, the Saskatoon Blades hold the 13th pick, and the Moose Jaw Warriors are at No. 14.