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WHL Regina Pats

Bedard Named to Team Canada for 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship

December 12, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
(Regina Pats, Credit: Keith Hershmiller)

Calgary, Alta. - Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard will represent Team Canada at the upcoming 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer. Hockey Canada announced the 25-man roster on Sunday evening, which included Bedard as one of 14 forwards.

Bedard is the only 16-year-old on the roster, and the first since Connor McDavid (2014) to make the Canadian World Junior team. Others who have cracked the team at just 16 include Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Sidney Crosby (2004), Jason Spezza (2000), Eric Lindros (1990) and Wayne Gretzky (1978).

Bedard is the first player to be granted exceptional status in the WHL, and was named the 2020-21 WHL Rookie of the Year after producing 28 points (12G-16A) in 16 games last season. The North Vancouver native has recorded 14 goals and 10 assists in 24 games this season for the Pats and leads the WHL in shots on goal with 132.

This past spring, the 5-foot-9, 180 lb. centre starred for Canada at the IIHF U-18 World Championships, where he co-led Canada in scoring with 14 points (7G-7A) in seven games, helping Canada to a gold medal.

The roster was selected by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams. Head coach Dave Cameron (Kinkora, P.E.I./Ottawa, OHL), and assistant coaches Michael Dyck (Lethbridge, Alta./Vancouver, WHL), Louis Robitaille (Montreal, Que./Gatineau, QMJHL) and Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL), as well as goaltending consultant Olivier Michaud (Beloeil, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL), also provided input, along with coaches and general managers across the CHL.

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on December 26 with Canada kicking off its tournament schedule against the Czech Republic, where Bedard will play against Pats teammate Stanislav Svozil. In addition to its opening-night match-up, Canada will also play Austria on Dec. 28, Germany on Dec. 29 and Finland on Dec. 31 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.

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Images from this story

Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
(Keith Hershmiller)		 Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
(Keith Hershmiller)		 Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard
(Keith Hershmiller)



Western Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2021


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