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Connor Bedard is doing the Saskatoon Blades a favour.
The WHL’s Blades are set to experience the so-called “Bedard Bump” when the Regina Pats visit SaskTel Centre on March 19. According to a media release from the team, the Blades will set a single-game franchise record for attendance when the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft comes to town.
The current record of 12,588 was set Feb. 9, 2013 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Blades said they’ve already sold more tickets than that for the Pats’ visit.
“Connor is an incredible player that comes along once every generation,” Blades president and general manager Colin Priestner said in the release.
“As a league, we’re extremely fortunate Connor chose the WHL as his path because his star power has brought thousands of new fans to come see our product from across the country, and he’s been an outstanding ambassador for our game.”
Bedard leads the WHL in goals (54) and points (114), and is second in assists (60) and game-winning goals (nine). He also started for Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2023 world junior hockey championship.
The attendance record the Blades are to set March 19 may not last long, either. The Pats are to visit Saskatoon again on March 24, and the Blades said more than 11,500 tickets already have been sold for that game.
According to the release, if both games sell out, it’d be the first time in nearly seven years that SaskTel Centre has had two sellout crowds in one week.
The Blades also announced they’re selling playoff passes for $99 for adults. The team noted the passes guarantee fans their seats for the whole post-season, which could comprise 16 games at SaskTel Centre if Saskatoon gets to the league final.
