‘I know he was watching it’: Bedard scores twice in first game after loss of grandfather

It was an emotional game, but Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard honoured his grandfather with a two-goal performance Friday.

Bedard scored both of Regina’s goals in a 2-1 overtime win over the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Brandt Centre — his first game since receiving the news his grandfather Garth had passed away.

On Wednesday, the WHL’s Pats announced Bedard’s grandfather was killed in a crash in B.C. on Tuesday.

“I think just being able to get out there (was important). He’s definitely who I play for and go out there for now for the rest of my life. It’s a really special game and I know he was watching it,” Bedard said following the game.

When the news came Tuesday, the Pats booked Bedard a flight to end his season early and send him home to B.C.

But Bedard said his grandpa would have wanted him to stay.

“He was one of my biggest fans and he loved watching me play and when he met new people, he wouldn’t stop talking about me and bragging about me. (The Pats) booked me a flight and I said, ‘No way am I going. It’s a few days and I’m going to battle it out,’ ” Bedard said.

“The boys on the team helped me out more than they know. When I was in my room alone, it was really hard so I was trying to get out and do stuff as much as I could so it was really important for me to come and play this game and dedicate that to him.”

“It’s difficult but for him to want to stay and the reason for staying — his grandfather would have wanted him to — he has talked to it. It’s something that makes him a special person outside of the game itself,” said Pats head coach Dave Struch.

“For our organization, for the people here in Regina, it’s a privilege to be around people like that.”

Bedard honoured his grandpa early in the second period.

Bedard fired a puck past Brandon goalie Connor Ungar and pointed into the air, signalling the goal was for Garth.

“It was a lot of emotions on the bench. I was tearing up a little just thinking about him and everything he did and I think it was just to honour him,” Bedard said. “I really wanted that one today.”

Brandon forward Jake Chiasson scored in the third period to tie the game at one.

The contest would need an extra frame and Bedard scored his second goal of the game, this one coming on the power play.

It was an exceptional end to an exceptional rookie campaign for Bedard. He is set to join the Team Canada ahead of the under-18 world championship tournament in Texas.

In order to do so, he needs to begin self-isolating at home, so Friday marked his final game with the Pats. He finishes his WHL season with 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 games.

“The organization’s unreal. I saw the same five streets every day driving from the (University of Regina) to the rink so I couldn’t tell you much about the city other than it’s flat. It was awesome. Everything’s first class,” Bedard said. “I’m real excited to be with this organization for the years to come.”

But while the Pats will finish off their 2020-21 campaign without their star rookie, Struch says this is an opportunity for the rest of the players to show off their skills.

“The challenge is already there,” he said. “They know it’s there. From our old guys to our young guys, the old guys have talked about it and our young guys should be frothing at the mouth for it.”