Connor Bedard in WHL action between the Regina Pats and Medicine Hat Tigers at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat, Alberta. (Jacob Varcoe photo)

By Jacob Varcoe

Bedard draws sellout crowd at Co-op Place

Feb 6, 2023 | 11:45 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It was an electrifying atmosphere at Co-op Place on Sunday, when the Medicine Hat Tigers hosted the Regina Pats.

With an attendance of 6,178 fans, the game was the largest-attended hockey game in Medicine Hat history.

Medicine Hat fans attending the sold-out game got the best of both worlds. Superstar Connor Bedard scored a goal 1:13 into the opening period, and the hometown team earned a 5-1 win.

“I don’t think I ever have, it’s my first one,” said a local fan entering the arena, pre-game, when asked about the last time at a Tigers game.

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“Connor Bedard,” was his response when asked why he chose to attend the game.

Bedard received a thunderous applause from the Medicine Hat crowd during a TV break in the first frame when the announcer listed some of his accomplishments from this year’s IIHF World Juniors Ice Hockey Championship tournament.

“You don’t really expect it in away buildings, for them to be doing something about you. So, it’s obviously nice of them, their management or whoever is controlling that,” said Bedard, post-game.

“To hear people get into it is good. I think the world juniors is always a pretty cool thing for the whole country and it’s good that everyone got so behind it.”

The 17-year-old phenom scored 23 points in seven games at the World Juniors, where he was named MVP, setting a number of Canadian records.

Regina’s captain is up to 45 goals with 91 points in 38 games played in the 2022-23 regular season and had a 35-game point streak snapped on Friday against Lethbridge.

“He’s a hard guy to slow down, he just is,” said Tigers head coach, Willie Desjardins.

“He’s an unbelievable player and he’s really hard to contain.”

Bedard is the consensus first-overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has drawn comparisons to some of the biggest stars in the game, such as Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.

He’s drawn large crowds around the WHL this season, with all eyes on the prodigy’s play. Bedard and the Pats will return to Medicine Hat for another battle with the Tigers on Saturday, March 11.