“A LOT OF NERVES” – BEDARD ON HIS WHL DEBUT

He’s been referred to as the Wonder Boy and the Holy Child, but I’m sure Regina Pats Head Coach Dave Struch and General Manager John Paddock would prefer if Connor Bedard was simply referred to as “one of the guys.”

But he’s not.

Just days before the Regina Pats open the 2020-21 Western Hockey League season against the Prince Albert Raiders in the Regina Hub (8:00 pm Friday, AccessNow TV, 620 CKRM), the WHL’s first-ever Exceptional Player met with the media on a Zoom call along with teammate Ryker Evans, Struch and Paddock on Tuesday.

With four days of practices behind them at the Brandt Centre, Struch said it’s all systems go as they get ready for the lid-lifter under the orange top.

“It’s exciting!” Struch smiled of their practices and what lays ahead. “The sentiment’s been the same right throughout. It was good. We had to get our feet underneath us. The execution wasn’t there but the excitement, the work ethic … we did touch on a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. The guys were all-in right from the start.”

Highlight videos from the Pats’ social media feeds of Bedard’s skills have wowed hockey fans far and wide, and the 15-year old from Vancouver has wasted no time settling in.

“It was good,” Bedard offered. “I’ve been anticipating this for a while and thought awhile ago we were gonna get out here. But to finally get on the team and see everyone, it’s been good.”

Ryker Evans echoed those thoughts, from a teammate’s perspective.

“For me, same thing,” said the 19-year old defenceman from Calgary. “It’s been a whole year since we’ve been together and it was great to see everyone. We’re faster and stronger and it was exciting to be on the ice for everyone.”

In a shortened training camp with no preseason, Struch said they haven’t had to adjust their process from other years too greatly.

“We haven’t changed anything,” Struch asserted. “We knew going in that we were going to have to change some things up and have to be a little bit more patient. But as far as how we practice, we do things the same way. We’ve changed some things up regarding timing and the drills but these guys have done a good job off the ice of remaining fit. We noticed that right off the hop. We knew fatigue and focus would come into play but we’ve worked through all of that. We’ve gotten a lot better with timing and puck execution. We’ve been battling every day. We’re right on par with where we’d like to be.”

The same goes for Bedard but despite his Exceptional Player status, he’s still human! He admitted to some mild opening night jitters.

“It’s a lot of nerves,” Bedard stated. “A lot of excitement. For all of us, it’s been a while. I’ve been playing, but haven’t played in the league yet. It’s mostly excitement but some nerves too. It’ll be a good way to get used to the pace. PA is a really good team and I’ll get a feel for it. That’ll help me throughout the year.”

I’ve projected a point-per-game clip for Bedard based on the OHL rookie campaigns of Connor McDavid and John Tavares, two other players who’ve worn the Exceptional tag. But Bedard isn’t looking that far ahead.

In fact, he’s not looking much past Friday night.

“I don’t know,” Bedard shrugged. “It’s pretty hard to say. I don’t know too much about the league so after that first game I’ll have a better idea what I’ll be able to do and what we’ll be able to do as a team.”

Dub fans are eager to know what the Hub life at the University of Regina has been like but, sorry to disappoint you, it’s not any different from other dorm atmospheres.

“I was at Notre Dame for a couple years so I’m used to it,” Evans reported. “You’re always hanging around the guys, at team meals and the lounge, so you can’t get away without seeing someone. I enjoy it. I’m not sure how other guys feel but it’s just something you have to work through.”

It’s taken a little more getting used to for Bedard, but it’s certainly not something he can’t handle. He seems tailor-made for an atmosphere of hockey, hockey, hockey.

“It’s a little different for me,” Bedard explained. “I haven’t really had this experience. Getting to know everyone, it’s nice to be out of quarantine now. That was a long six days. Now the days go quick. Hanging around everyone has been good. Days go fast and it’s good to be around everyone.”

Frankly what’s scintillating for all of us who have the privilege of being in the Hub at the Brandt Centre is the chance to experience what the pro leagues have been dealing with for almost a year; no fans.

“Obviously in Regina, we’ve got some of the best fans,” said Evans, who’s entering his third year with the Pats. “From going to different rinks, you really appreciate our Regina fans. Having them not in our building will hopefully not make too big of an impact on the way we play but they definitely bring something every game.”

As for the eye-popping prowess of Bedard in practice, Struch said he’s been as advertised.

“From my eyes, it’s been good,” Struch continued. “I was able to watch him over in Sweden and with the older group, you could see he could keep up and play at that level. With our group, it’s like he’s a 3-4 year veteran. That comes with who he is, his skill level, but his compete and playing against old guys and young guys, the way he handles himself around the team, all that stuff factors into why he’s labeled as the way he is. But people don’t see the kind of person he is. That’s from a coach’s side.”

How about from a General Manager’s side? What does John Paddock expect from Bedard once the puck goes down for real?

“It’s a short season so he’s not going to score as many as I would’ve thought,” Paddock advised. “There’s no numbers to put out or anything but I know watching him practice, he’s everything that we thought. The best recommendations come from the people on the ice. I heard what Logan (Nijhoff) and Ryker said and know what Dave thinks. It’s hard to believe he’s just 15. That’s how I’ll probably leave it.”

From the players’ perspective, Evans has been impressed too but count him in the camp of people who deal with Bedard as simply “one of the guys.”

“He’s definitely got a wicked shot,” Evans laughed. “He’s definitely a guy you’re always looking out for in battle drills. The way he thinks the game, it allows for the guys on his line to succeed. In the room, he acts mature for a 15-year old and he’s going to fit in just right in Regina.”

Now really all that’s left is to play the games and Friday’s season-opener against Prince Albert is a perfect measuring stick. I’ve got the Raiders pegged as the #1 team in the East Division and if the game needed any more hype, it marks the return of goaltender Max Paddock to the Brandt Centre. Regina shipped the 20-year old target to P.A. at last season’s trade deadline.

“I don’t think I’ll think much of it,” John Paddock said of his team facing his nephew. “For him, he was well-received here. The Memorial Cup, etc. It would be nice to be in front of a crowd. I hope he does well. He’s playing for a contract but I think these are the two best goalies in the Hub (along with Regina’s Roddy Ross). They might be pretty hard on the shooters that night.”

Let’s go! I anticipate this will be the most-watched Regina Pats game on AccessNow in a generation. See you Friday.

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