BEDARD RETURNS TO PATS LINEUP SUNDAY

Regina, Sask. — Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard will return to the lineup for the Pats matchup with the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday, January 8 at 4 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

The 17-year-old is coming off an MVP performance at the IIHF World Junior Championships, where he won his second consecutive gold medal with Team Canada and won the scoring title with 23 points in seven games.

Bedard set multiple Canadian World Junior records, including points (23) and assists (14) in a single tournament by a Canadian, career goals by a Canadian (17) and career points by a Canadian (36).

Despite missing the last 11 Pats games, Bedard still leads the Western Hockey League in scoring with 64 points in 28 games (27G-37A) and will look to extend his 27-game point streak.

There will also be a post-game skate on Sunday, presented by Save on Foods. Please note you will only be permitted on the ice if you have skates with you.

The Regina Pats have traded 2003-born forward Easton Armstrong to the Winnipeg ICE in exchange for 2005-born defenceman Omen Harmacy.

Harmacy, 17, has played in 30 games with the ICE this season, recording three points (0G-3A) and a +7 plus/minus rating. The Winnipeg, Man. product joined the ICE midway through last season and played in 32 regular season games and three playoff games, registering six points (0G-6A). The 5-foot-9, 181 lb. defenceman was previously drafted in the eighth round (#168) in 2020.

Armstrong, 19, scored 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 39 games this season, breaking his career-high for goals, assists and points. The Los Angeles, CA product played in 121 games with the Pats over the course of parts of three seasons, recording 34 points (20G-14A). The 6-foot-3, 204 lb. winger was drafted by the Pats in the 10th round (#214) in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft.

“This was a chance to get a young right-shot defenceman that has been playing good minutes for the ICE,” Regina Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock said. “There was a cost, but we think it was best at this time.”

(Dante DeCaria, ReginaPats.com)