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Connor Bedard made an immediate impact in his first game back for the Regina Pats, scoring four times, including the overtime winner, in a 7-6 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday.
Bedard’s return to the lineup came earlier than expected with the cancellation of the 2022 World Juniors last week. In his final game with Canada at the tournament, Bedard had four goals in an 11-2 win over Austria.
“I think any coach would be crazy to say that we wish he would stay away for another two weeks. We love to have Connor back in our lineup,” said assistant coach Ken Schneider. “I was saying after the game, ‘Not a bad way to come, you’ve scored eight goals in your last two games of hockey.’”
Bedard’s first goal came on a solo effort, where he picked up speed in the neutral zone, dangled around a defender, and fired it past Moose Jaw goalie Carl Tetachuk in the second period. Just 1:14 later, Bedard fired another shot past the Warriors goaltender after a pass from winger Tanner Howe.
The phenomenal 16-year-old’s third goal came just 1:55 into the third and final frame after getting the puck in the neutral zone and bringing it in against two Moose Jaw defenders before using his world-class shot to score once again. It was the first hat-trick in Bedard’s WHL career.
But while Bedard was firing on all cylinders, both teams didn’t have much trouble finding the back of the net in the game.
The Pats started the game off on the wrong foot with defenceman Stanislav Svozil getting a major interference penalty just 41 seconds into the game. Svozil was also at the World Juniors tournament playing for Czechia.
But the Pats would find some good fortune from the penalty, with forwards Logan Nijhoff and Cole Dubinsky scoring while the Pats were shorthanded.
Moose Jaw would answer back with goals from defenceman Matthew Gallant and centre Jagger Firkus scoring on Pats goaltender Matthew Kieper.
Moose Jaw defenceman Maximus Wanner answered the first Bedard goal in the second while defenceman Majid Kaddoura answered the second.
Moose Jaw winger Tate Schofer, forward Robert Braco, and Pats forward Drew Englot scored in the third period. Pats goaltender Drew Sim played the third and overtime periods for Regina.
Bedard’s final salvo came in overtime after Nijhoff took the puck behind the Warriors’ net before finding Bedard in the slot who made no mistake on the shot.
“Any time you get a player of that calibre back, it’s going to help the team,” Nijhoff said. “Four goals is pretty special.”
Bedard and the Pats are trying to make up some ground in the WHL Eastern Conference. They entered the game just three points back of the Calgary Hitmen for the eighth spot in the standings but trailed Moose Jaw by 10 coming into Saturday’s game.
“We’re still growing and learning as a team. We’re pretty young and we’ve battled injuries all year. A couple of games there we had eight fo out guys who are regular-roster guys out,” Nijhoff said. “I think the first half of the season we let a lot of (games) get away from us that shouldn’t have.”
The Pats (14-17-0-0) are in action on Friday in Saskatoon against the Blades(17-13-1-1).
