BEDARD WINS WHL 2020-21 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C.) has won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year presented by Wawanesa Insurance.
Bedard burst onto the scene after being selected first overall by the Pats in the 2020 WHL Draft, registering two goals in his WHL debut. In 15 games with Regina, the 15-year-old recorded 28 points (12G-16A) before joining Team Canada’s gold medal-winning entry at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Texas.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound forward led all WHL rookies in goals (12), points (28) and power-play assists (seven), finishing tied among first-year players in assists (16) and game-winning goals (two). Bedard also shared the Pats team lead in points.
Bedard amassed a total of 10 multi-point efforts in his 15 games played with Regina during the 2020-21 WHL season, including a pair of four-point games March 29 and April 6, 2021.
The product of North Vancouver, B.C. is the first WHL player to have been granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada and is eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft.
Bedard is the sixth member of the Regina Pats franchise to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year and first since Jeff Friesen, who was awarded the trophy during the 1992-93 WHL season. He joins Friesen, Dale Derkatch (1981-82), Dave Michayluk (1980-81), Dennis Sobchuk (1971-72) and Ron Garwasiuk (1966-67) as Pats players to have been named WHL Rookie of the Year.
The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the player whose performance in their first season is deemed to be the most outstanding among all rookies.
A former owner of the Saskatoon Blades, Jim Piggott played a direct role in the formation of the Western Canadian Hockey League, now known as the WHL. Along with Del Wilson, Piggott played a critical role in the unification of all three Major Junior leagues across Canada into what is now known as the Canadian Hockey League.
(WHL Communications)
