BLADES MOVING ON, BEDARD TOO
Photo: Saskatoon Blades
SASKATOON – Connor Bedard’s dream season with the Regina Pats is over. So too is his junior hockey career.
Jake Chiasson’s goal at 7:56 of the third period made it 2-0 and stoop up as the winner as the Saskatoon Blades beat the Pats 4-1 in Western Hockey League playoff action on Monday, to take their first-round, best-of-seven series in seven games.
Bedard, who compiled 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 regular-season games with the Pats, is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NHL entry draft. He had 11 goals and eight assists in the first six games of the series against the Blades, and added an assist on Stanislav Svozil’s late third-period goal that cut the deficit to 2-1.
Spencer Shugrue, Vaughn Watterodt and Trevor Wong, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Blades, who outshot the Pats 41-16.
The teams were scoreless after the first period and the Blades took a 1-0 lead into the third.
The Blades now face the Red Deer Rebels in the Eastern Conference semifinal. The Rebels eliminated the Calgary Hitmen in five games. In the other East semifinal, the Winnipeg ICE play the Moose Jaw Warriors.
In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds play the Prince George Cougars in one semifinal, while the Kamloops Blazers tangle with the Portland Winterhawks in the other semifinal. The Blazers will host, and play in, the 2023 Memorial Cup from May 25 to June 4 at the Sandman Centre.
(Canadian Press)
Great season from one of the top 5 Pats of all time. Good luck at the next level!
You are not qualified to rank. Bro you ain’t in your old lady’s top 30
the reality of this is the Pats were a one pony show and didnt have the complementary cast to support their star. When one guy scores just about all of their goals, it means if he slips one game or has an off night they cannot compete. It is what it is and last night was a classic where Bedard was held in check. In fact, he actually caused 2 of the Blades goals by not willing to back check. The Blades had numerous 3 or 2’s with Bedard on the ice when he refused to skate hard back and… Read more »
This is a case of not being sorry it’s over. It’s a day to rejoice it happened. Coming out of the pandemic for the Province to gather over hockey in both cities. There is hope. Dante said it best post game. This t.e.a.m was special. They absolutely emptied the tank and a bunch of young kids when up there. Smashed them in the mouth and we’ll the older team over a battle of attrition was a couple goals better. This series had a small town Provincial series vibe to it. Very intense but in hockey there are very few Cinderella… Read more »
Hey Obama, this isn’t a site for you to use as a diary for the rest of us to catch up on your life. Its about hockey not about you. Just saying. No one cares if you go to Kelowna. By the way, getting back to hockey, what this article is about, the Pats were not that special. They barely made the playoffs and only did what they did in the playoffs because of one guy, CB!!! The rest of their team really did nothing except get out there and skate around til the floater boy caught his breath. Lets… Read more »
…I’d say you’re special. You had the bus ride to school to prove it and the diploma from the Alan Blakeny Adult Campus. Just the idea of what you put down….nobody reads it lol. This from a guy who has the temerity to rail against a boy who just brought a lot of joy over the course of a season/winter. Sir, next year there may not be a lot of people there. I’ll be in section 221, row 4, seat 6, and I’d encourage you to stop by and provide me your analysis. – understand it’s a hard fall down… Read more »
Pats had them where they wanted them but couldn’t close the deal. Game 3 up 3-1, game 4 up the same, surrender a PP goal with 27 seconds left killed them. I enjoyed watch Bedard in the 3 games I seen him. He gave his heart and soul to a team that realistically wasn’t going to go far in the playoffs. Good on him for sticking it out. I watched the last 3 on TV and found out why the Blades were the better team. Yes, Pats win at home to force a game 7, but the Blades seemed to… Read more »
Petey, or maybe the Blades had the Pats where they wanted them and just let Floater boy float around a bit more to give the Pats fans some hope. heeeeeheee
hey Sneaky, Lazarak is a true homer, quite funny actually. ha ha ha I watched all 7 games and the ones in saskatoon live. The Pats really are a one pony show and when Bedard is not on the ice, the Pats stand a slim to none chance of scoring. Hence why he is out there for 2/3 of the game. The Blades have 3 equal lines and throw them at the Pats defence relentlessly. Last night the Pats defence was obviously worn out , especially on the forecheck and in the corners. The Blades owned the dump in and… Read more »