Pats’ Connor Bedard heading to Sweden to train

Connor Bedard is taking his exceptional talents to Sweden to prepare for the WHL season.

The Regina Pats, who took Bedard first overall in the 2020 WHL entry draft, announced Monday that Bedard will be training and practising with the HV71 junior program until the start of the 2020-21 WHL season.

Bedard is the first player from Western Canada to be granted exceptional status by the Canadian Hockey League and will play in the WHL as a 15-year-old.

Bedard, from Vancouver, had 43 goals and 84 points in 35 games with the West Van Warriors during the 2019-20 season. He led the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in scoring and was named the league MVP.

HV71 is a hockey team based in Jnkping and plays in the Swedish Hockey League.

“I’m really looking forward to this unique opportunity,” Bedard said in a media release. “I look forward to being able to develop in Sweden with HV71 and prepare myself for when I arrive in Regina. Hopefully we can be playing in front of the fans in December.”

The WHL season is set to begin on Dec. 4 due to COVID-19 restrictions.