Connor Bedard is following in some big footsteps.
The Regina Pats’ star centre has been named to Canada’s 25-man roster for the 2022 world junior hockey championship tournament, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
The team was chosen after a selection camp in Calgary.
Bedard is the first 16-year-old to make the Canadian squad since Connor McDavid in 2014. The other players who have made Team Canada as 16-year-olds are Sidney Crosby, Eric Lindros, Jason Spezza, Jay Bouwmeester and Wayne Gretzky.
Bedard, the first player to be granted exceptional status in the WHL, was named the league’s rookie-of-the-year as a 15-year-old last season. He recorded 12 goals and 28 points in 16 games in the East Division bubble in Regina.
So far this season, the product of North Vancouver, B.C., has posted 14 goals and 10 assists in 24 games.
He already has international experience, having played for Canada at the world under-18 championship last season in Texas. He had seven goals and 14 points in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal.
Bedard is the second Pats player to be named to a team in the 2022 tournament. Defenceman Stanislav Svozil is to play for the Czech Republic in the event for a second straight year.
The Pats teammates will meet Dec. 26 in the tournament opener for the Canadians and the Czechs.