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Connor Bedard’s journey to exceptional player status didn’t start off so exceptionally.
“I started playing when I was about four or five and the first ice time, I didn’t like it,” the 14-year-old Regina Pats centre said during an appearance on The Green Zone on Thursday. “Then I went again.
“At North Shore Winter Club by my house (in North Vancouver, B.C.), you can just go on open ice and do whatever. I really enjoyed the freedom of doing whatever I could. Ever since then, four or five, (hockey) has kind of been my life.”
You might say.
Bedard admitted that hockey, school and spending time with friends and family take up most of his time. He doesn’t even have a video game system.
“I don’t know why,” he said. “I guess I was never too interested in that.”
People around the hockey world are interested to see how Bedard does in the WHL — and beyond.
Two seasons ago, he was named the most valuable player of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s U15 Prep Division. In 30 games with West Vancouver Academy, he topped the league in goals (64) and points (88).
Last season, Bedard had league-leading totals of 43 goals and 84 points in 36 games with West Vancouver Academy’s U18 team en route to being named the CSSHL U18 division’s MVP.
He was the obvious choice to be the No. 1 pick in the WHL’s bantam draft April 22 — and the Pats just happened to have that selection.
“The first time I talked to Regina was sometime in October and then I talked to a few other teams as well,” Bedard said. “I didn’t know I was going first until the day before the draft. But I was really excited it was Regina that ended up getting me.”
He may not have known he’d be the top pick, but pretty much everyone else did. After all, Bedard had become on March 24 the first player ever granted exceptional player status in the WHL.
Only six players had previously earned that tag from the Canadian Hockey League since the rule was adopted in 2005. The OHL had five of them (Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Sean Day and Shane Wright) and the QMJHL had one (Joe Veleno).
“When I was told that I did get the exceptional status, it was such a crazy moment,” Bedard said. “You hear that and you don’t really believe it at first. It’s such an exciting moment. Hearing my name with those guys is definitely really special.”
With that status, Bedard will be able to play a whole WHL season as a 15-year-old in 2020-21 instead of being limited to five games like other players his age. He’s to turn 15 on July 17.
While he previously has faced players who are older than him, he’ll now be going against 19- and 20-year-olds who in some cases are NHL-ready.
Bedard admitted he has tried to improve every aspect of his game in preparation for his rookie season, but two things stand out for him.
“As a 15-year-old among some 20-year-olds and 19-year-olds, I think speed and strength are going to be huge for me,” said Bedard, who was listed last season as being 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds.
“I know I’m not going to be the biggest guy or the fastest guy, but if I can really get my speed and strength up, I think that would really, really help me this season.”
He also knows things he did in previous seasons against bantam- and midget-aged players aren’t going to work in the WHL.
“Those first few games, I’m going to have to adjust my game,” he said. “I can’t expect to dangle and burn (defencemen) wide. I’ve got to adjust my game, which I have this year playing up (in the U18 age group).
“It’s not as big of a jump (as going to the WHL will be), but it was still a jump playing against ’02s (players born in 2002). The first two games, I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be and then I learned to adjust my game to that speed.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has limited Bedard’s opportunities to go on the ice this off-season, but he has been working out to stay active. Now he — like everyone else — has to wait to see if the coronavirus affects the 2020-21 season.
When Bedard does make his Pats debut, he’ll no doubt face the pressure of living up to his exceptional player status. Much of that pressure will come from Bedard himself.
“I’ve always been pretty self-motivated and I’ve always wanted to get the best out of myself,” said Bedard, who’s also renowned for his humility. “I don’t think if I’m succeeding, I need to tell anyone about that. I think I’m a leader in the way I try to make my actions speak louder than my words …
“I think you’re more liked by your team if you’re just one of the guys and that’s how I go into the dressing room.”