The Western branch of the Regina Pats fan club is about to get a major boost as North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard makes his debut with the Western Hockey League club tonight.
The 15-year-old will wear No. 98 tonight as he makes history, becoming the first-ever underage player to suit up in a WHL game. Last March, Bedard was granted exceptional status, allowing him to enter the WHL one year early. He was subsequently picked No. 1 overall by the Pats in the WHL draft.
The start of the season was delayed by COVID-19 concerns, but the Pats begin a modified schedule tonight with a home game against the Prince Albert Raiders.
The exceptional-player rule was introduced in 2005 for Canada's three major junior hockey leagues. Bedard is the seventh player to receive the status, joining John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day and Shane Wright from the Ontario Hockey League, and Joe Veleno in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Check out this feature article for more details on Bedard's rise as one of the game's brightest young stars.
WHL games are offered on pay-per-view with a subscription fee of $60 for access to every game all season, or $7 for 24 hours of viewing. Tonight’s Pats vs. Raiders game, however, will be available free as part of the WHL’s Home Opener Freeview offer. Puck drop is 8 p.m. Central Standard time, which is 6 p.m. in Vancouver. Watch it for free on the WHL website.
