About Connor Bedard
Connor Bedard, the highly regarded Canadian junior ice hockey center, currently serves as the captain of the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL). His exceptional talent and potential were recognized when he was chosen as the first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Bedard's journey in the WHL began in 2020 when he was selected as the first overall pick by the Regina Pats in the WHL Bantam Draft, becoming the first player of exceptional status in the league. He made an immediate impact, earning the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie player in his debut season. Impressively, in his third year in the WHL, Bedard claimed both the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league's leading scorer and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player. His outstanding performances also earned him recognition on a national level, as he secured the Canadian Hockey League's Top Scorer and Player of the Year accolades. Representing his country, he has achieved great success with the Canadian national teams, winning championships with the under-18 team in 2021 and the junior team in 2022 and 2023. During the 2023 tournament, he showcased his exceptional skills, setting numerous national and international points records. His remarkable performance led to him being named the tournament's most valuable player and also earned him the distinction of being the first-ever recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award. He has been featured in articles for The Athletic, CBS Sports, Barstool Sports, and The Toronto Star.
Connor Bedard Early Life & Family Background
Connor Bedard, born on July 17, 2005, hails from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2022, he turned 17 years old. He is the son of his parents, Tom and Melanie, and has a sister named Madisen, who is a kinesiology student and a gymnast at Simon Fraser University. Connor learned skating from his sister, who played a significant role in his development as a hockey player. His father, Tom, worked in forestry, and he has a great-great uncle, James, who played NHL games for the Chicago team in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After tragically losing his grandfather in a car accident, Connor made a promise to his grandmother to score a goal for his late grandfather, which he accomplished in his next game by scoring two goals. According to his father, Connor always had a hockey stick and a ball with him, even on their family trip to Hawaii where he brought his inline skates and hockey stick. Connor holds Canadian nationality, identifies as Canadian-White, follows Christianity, and his zodiac sign is Cancer. Impressing from a young age, he joined the Canadian Sport School Hockey League's West Van Hockey Academy when he was just 13 years old, establishing himself as a prodigious talent.
Connor Bedard Career
- In 2018, Connor Bedard emerged as a promising hockey prospect, earning the title of "The Future of Hockey" by The Hockey News.
- He played for West Vancouver Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he excelled on the U15 and U18 teams.
- He topped the league in goals and points, earning the Most Valuable Player award in both years.
- In March 2020, he received exceptional status from Hockey Canada, allowing him to join the major junior-level Canadian Hockey League a year earlier than usual.
- He was selected first overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats, becoming the first player of exceptional status in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
- Bedard played for the HV71 junior hockey system until the WHL resumed its 2020-21 season in March 2021.
- In his rookie season, he impressed with 28 points in 15 games and went on to win multiple awards, including the WHL's Rookie of the Year.
- The following season, Bedard set records by becoming the youngest player to score 50 or more goals in a WHL season and achieved a remarkable 100-point season as a 16-year-old.
- He gained significant attention, being profiled in The New York Times as an exciting NHL prospect.
- After a scoreless opening game of the 2022-23 season, he went on an impressive points streak that propelled him to the top of the WHL standings.
- On November 17, he became the first WHL player in a decade to achieve twenty-game point streaks in consecutive seasons.
- Bedard's presence drew significant crowds to the Pats' road games, with his return to Vancouver attracting over 5,000 fans, nearly double the Giants' season average.
- Despite missing several games due to his participation in the World Junior Championships, Bedard reclaimed the WHL scoring lead upon his return in January, delivering a stellar performance with four goals and two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen.
- Despite the Regina Pats not being a highly competitive team and Bedard being seen as a near-certain NHL prospect for the following year, there were discussions in the media about the possibility of the Pats trading him to a contending team in exchange for future assets before the WHL trade deadline in 2023.
- However, Pats general manager John Paddock strongly denied any potential trade, emphasizing that Bedard had the final say and expressed his desire to stay with the Regina Pats and finish his career there.
- Ultimately, the trade deadline passed without any transactions taking place.
- Following his return from the 2023 World Junior Championships, Bedard's popularity as a crowd magnet soared, particularly evident during a January road trip in Alberta.
- The Red Deer Rebels' Peavey Mart Centrium witnessed a record attendance of 7,287, while the Medicine Hat Tigers' arena sold out, attracting more than double their average crowd.
- The Enmax Centre for the Lethbridge Hurricanes offered standing-room only, and the Pats played a nationally-televised game against the Hitmen in the Saddledome, home of the NHL's Calgary Flames.
- With the upper seating opened, the near-record WHL attendance of 17,223 was achieved, surpassing the Hitmen's seasonal average of 3,500.
- His outstanding performance throughout the regular season, scoring 71 goals and providing 72 assists in 57 games, earned him the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's leading scorer.
- He also led the CHL in scoring with 143 points, making him the first WHL player since 1995-96 to achieve a 140-point season.
- Recognizing his exceptional talent, Bedard received the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL player of the year, becoming the first draft-eligible player to be named league MVP in nearly a decade.
- His remarkable achievements were further acknowledged with the CHL Trop Draft Prospect and CHL Player of the Year awards, making him the first individual to win all three awards in a single season.
- Additionally, he secured a spot on the revived CHL First All-Star Team.
- In the 2022-23 WHL playoffs, the Regina Pats faced the Saskatoon Blades in the first round.
- He made a strong impact in the series opener with two goals and an assist, marking his first playoff points ever.
- Regina initially won the first two games but ended up losing the following three.
- In Game 6, Bedard contributed a goal and three assists in a 5-3 victory, forcing a decisive Game 7.
- Unfortunately, despite his efforts, the Pats were ultimately eliminated by the Blades.
- Bedard's impressive performance throughout the series included 10 goals and 10 assists, leading many to speculate that this marked the conclusion of his WHL and junior career.
- Bedard's exceptional talent and early recognition as a potential top pick in the NHL draft garnered significant attention, especially after receiving exceptional status to play in the WHL.
- The debate surrounding his draft eligibility intensified as comparisons were drawn between him and Russian winger Matvei Michkov, who were both considered rising stars in the hockey world.
- However, Michkov's contract extension with his KHL club and geopolitical uncertainties shifted the focus towards Bedard as the likely first-overall pick.
- As his draft year approached, discussions emerged regarding whether Bedard possessed "generational" talent, putting him in the league of Crosby, Ovechkin, and McDavid.
- Several NHL teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, were rumored to be intentionally performing poorly in the 2022-23 season to increase their chances in the draft lottery.
- The Blackhawks ultimately secured the first overall selection, making Bedard their presumed destination.
- The announcement resulted in a rapid surge in ticket sales for the team, with Chicago selling $2.5 million worth of season ticket packages within a short period of time.
- Prior to the draft in Nashville, he was honored with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, presented by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau to the individual who best embodies qualities of character, competitiveness, and athleticism, showcasing a remarkable commitment to excellence.
Connor Bedard International Career
- Bedard showcased his talent on the international stage in April and May 2021, representing Canada in the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships in Frisco, Texas.
- He contributed significantly to the team's success, winning a gold medal, finishing second in points, and earning a spot on the media all-star team.
- Later, in December 2021, Bedard made history as the seventh 16-year-old to be chosen for Canada's World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
- Despite the tournament's suspension due to the Omicron variant, Bedard's exceptional performance in the team's first game included scoring four goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for most goals by a 16-year-old in the championships, and tying the overall Canadian record for most goals in a single World Junior game.
- The tournament was later rescheduled to take place in August 2022.
- In April 2022, he was selected as the sole returning player for the Canadian team in the IIHF World U18 Championships, where he made a significant impact by scoring a hat trick in a game against Germany.
- This feat not only broke Shane Wright's record for Canadian goal-scoring in the U18 Championships but also surpassed Mathew Barzal's points record.
- Later, at the rescheduled World Junior Championships, Bedard represented Canada once again, gaining attention for his impressive shooting abilities.
- He contributed four goals and four assists throughout the tournament, helping Canada secure the gold medal.
- In December 2022, Bedard was named to the Canadian national team for the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he shattered the Canadian record for career goals and points at the tournament with his opening goal in the quarter-final against Slovakia.
- He also set a new world record for World Junior points by a player under the age of 19. Bedard's game-winning goal in overtime further solidified his impact on the tournament.
- With nine goals and fourteen assists in total, he played an instrumental role in Canada's second consecutive gold medal victory.
- Bedard received several accolades, including the IIHF directorate's recognition as the best forward of the championships, a spot on the media all-star team, and the event's Most Valuable Player title.
- He was also honored as the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award.
Connor Bedard Awards and Achievements
- CSSHL U15 Most Valuable Player: 2019
- CSSHL U18 Most Valuable Player: 2020
- WHL Exceptional Player Status: 2020
- Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: 2021
- Bob Clarke Trophy: 2023
- Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: 2023
- CHL Top Scorer Award: 2023
- CHL Top Draft Prospect Award: 2023
- CHL Player of the Year: 2023
- CHL First All-Star Team: 2023
- NHL E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence: 2023
- World U18 Championship Media All-Star Team: 2021
- World Junior Championship Best Forward: 2023
- World Junior Championship Media All-Star Team: 2023
- World Junior Championship MVP: 2023
- IIHF Male Player of the Year: 2023
Connor Bedard Net Worth
Connor Bedard, the talented Canadian junior ice hockey center and captain of the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL), has garnered considerable success in his career. As of 2023, it is estimated that Bedard has a net worth of approximately $1 million, primarily stemming from his hockey endeavors. With earnings of around $800,000, Bedard is content with his income and is currently leading a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle.
Connor Bedard Dating & Girlfriend
Connor Bedard, the young and rising star in the world of ice hockey, is not currently married and does not have a wife. Being at a youthful stage in his life, he has not yet become a father and does not have any biological or adopted children. With his growing popularity, particularly on social media, there have been rumors circulating about his relationship status. According to TikTok, Emma Loken is speculated to be his girlfriend, but these claims lack substantial evidence. Emma's social media presence is relatively private, with limited information available to the public. However, based on available information, Connor Bedard is currently single. He is straight when it comes to his sexual orientation.
Connor Bedard Height & Weight
Connor Bedard, a talented ice hockey player, possesses a striking appearance. Standing 1.75 meters tall and weighing 84 kilograms, he exudes a strong presence on the ice. With captivating blue eyes and brown hair, he adds to his charm. Sporting an athletic body type, Bedard showcases his physical prowess. Not only does he possess a healthy physique, but he also carries an attractive personality that complements his athletic abilities.
