Courtesy Canadian Press

By Jacob Varcoe

Co-op Place sold out with Bedard coming to town this weekend

Feb 3, 2023 | 2:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers will play in the first of back-to-back weekend games on Saturday night against Lethbridge, but the big story comes on Sunday.

Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats will come to town for a meeting with the Tigers with the opening face-off at 4 p.m.

It will be the first sellout crowd for a game at the arena since Sept. 26, 2015, when the Tigers made their Co-op Place debut against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on opening night of the 2015-16 regular season.

“We’ve got great fans here and for them to fill it like that, it’s going to be pretty special,” said Tigers captain Owen MacNeil, on Tuesday. “So, new experience for some of us and just an exciting time to make sure we get a win.”

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Treblemakers' gives learning musicians courage in Medicine Hat

16h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Diverse personal stories shared at 'Pecha Kucha' in Medicine Hat

22h ago

WHAT TO KNOW

Here's the date when Taco Bell is opening in Medicine Hat

Jan 17, 2025

Bedard and the Pats played in front of a packed house in Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday. In that game the phenom led his team to a 6-5 win over the Calgary Hitmen, potting the game-winner in the shootout, adding a goal and two assists in regulation.

The consensus first-overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Draft is on a 35-game point streak with 90 points over the stretch. He’ll be looking to continue his dominance this weekend.

“I think there’s a lot of guys who are really good, but I think what he has that even some of the best don’t have is he can be good in big games,” said Tigers Head Coach Willie Desjardins, on Tuesday. “For a guy his age it’s really pretty remarkable what he’s done.”

At the 2023 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship tournament, Bedard demonstrated his greatness on an international level. He set a new Canadian record in points at a single tournament with 23 in seven games and was named the MVP of the competition.

“He’s a special player,” said Desjardins. “You look at the World Juniors, he’s able to elevate his level, even at that level.”

Bedard is being compared to some of the game’s best players, including Sidney Crosby and another player in Alberta that shares a first name with him, Connor McDavid. With those expectations comes excitement.

There’s a buzz around the city with the superstar coming to town to play in front of what will be a sellout crowd and an electric atmosphere at Co-op Place on Sunday.