'It's exciting to be with the best players in the country': Bedard gearing up for WJC Selection Camp
Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard addressed media in the Queen City on Wednesday for the final time before he heads off to Canada’s 2023 World Junior Championship Selection Camp.
The 17-year-old centre represented Canada last year when the tournament was cancelled midway through due to COVID-19 cases. However, Bedard had five points in his two games. Once the tournament resumed in August, Bedard went on to record eight points in seven games on route to winning a gold medal with Team Canada.
On Tuesday it was announced Bedard was once again named to Canada’s roster and is considered a lock to make the team. Bedard is on a 27 game point-streak with a total of 64 points in that stretch.
“It’s exciting, it’s kind of weird for I think the country to have two of them within four months now, but for us it’s super exciting,” Bedard said. “Halifax is a pretty cool spot to have it, I think it’s been sold out for months now. It’s exciting to be with the best [junior] players in the country.”
Even though Canada came out on top in what was considered the 2021 tournament, Bedard will look to bring this season’s improvements to the team.
“I think probably my face-offs have improved a lot and I’ve been pretty good in the circle this year. Whether I’m playing centre or wing there I’m not too sure, we’ll see if I can help bring that to the table,” said Bedard. “We have a lot of guys that are probably a lot better than me at face-offs but if I get the opportunity to be on a big face-off guy, I think it’d be exciting.”
“When he came back last year, he came back with just some new confidence. Playing with all those elite players and obviously the success he had, I think he realized the next level he could go with his game,” Regina Pats assistant coach Brad Herauf said on Bedard’s improvements following last year’s tournament.
It is already a busy season for Bedard, who saw sold-out crowds on the Pats’ most recent road trip to B.C., as well gearing up for the 2023 National Hockey League (NHL) draft and with the pressure of the World Junior Hockey Championships right around the corner, the forward is still finding time to reflect on the game he loves.
“I think the first time you put that jersey on every tournament, it’s pretty surreal. You kind of take a step back and kind of want to thank the people that have helped you the most. It’s one of the biggest hockey tournaments in the world, so it’s an honour,” Bedard said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Canadian government proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.