Sign of the times: Bedard the main attraction at Pats’ autograph session

Connor Bedard drew a large crowd to the Brandt Centre on Tuesday evening — and his Regina Pats weren’t even playing.

Bedard was the main attraction as the WHL’s Pats staged an autograph session.

Wade Bohn showed up at 6 a.m. for the autograph session, which started a full 12 hours later.

“I had no idea what time the people would start showing up,” admitted Bohn, who sat in his car and visited the McDonald’s on the REAL District campus while waiting.

Asked why he was there, Bohn quickly replied: “Connor Bedard.”

“He’s phenomenal,” Bohn added. “He could be the next generational player from Regina.”

Perry Miller, a season-ticket holder who lives outside of Regina, arrived at 2:30 p.m. for the autograph session.

“We bought season tickets three years ago and we’ve been season-ticket holders primarily because of Connor Bedard,” Miller said. “He’s a phenomenon and we’ll never see a player like him again, I don’t think, (come) through Regina.”

Miller’s son, Chad, said Perry is retired, so he was able to stand in line until Chad and his nephew arrived around 4 p.m.

Chad, who called Bedard “one in a million,” had with him a Team Canada jersey for Bedard to sign. The 17-year-old phenom was spectacular in helping Canada win gold at the recent world junior hockey championship.

Since returning from that tournament, Bedard — the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft — has lit up the WHL while packing arenas at home and on the road. He leads the league in goals (45) and points (91) and is tied for the league lead in assists (46).

“There was all the hype about him being the first exceptional status player (in the WHL) and he has turned out to be every bit of what we were all hoping he would be,” Chad Miller said. “We can’t wait to watch him play in the NHL.”

Perry Miller was going to get Bedard to sign a Pats jersey that would remain in Miller’s personal collection.

“I wear it to the games,” Miller said. “I’m not sure if I’ll wear it to the games after I get the autograph.”

Fans line up for a Regina Pats autograph session featuring Connor Bedard at the Brandt Centre on Feb. 7, 2023. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

Sophia Tibben and her friend Lily Wilson were lined up outside the arena as they waited to get Bedard’s signature. Tibben wanted to get a hat signed and Wilson had a hoodie for Bedard to autograph.

“He’s really good and, just in general, he’s really cool,” Tibben said.

“I look up to him,” added Wilson.

When Wilson was asked if she was surprised the line to see Bedard stretched outside the Brandt Centre, she replied: “Not really. He’s a very famous person at this moment.”

Renan Desautels was looking to get a Bedard rookie card signed. Desautels got the card for his birthday and wanted to get it signed by his favourite WHL player.

“He’s just a really cool player,” Desautels said. “I’ve heard lots of cool stories about him.”

And what’s the plan for the card once it’s autographed?

“(I’ll) probably save it until I’m quite a bit older,” he said.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Shane Clausing