Keith Hershmiller/WHL

Bedard, Pats beat Wheat Kings in emotional OT win

 

The Friday matinee at the Subway WHL Hub had the Brandon Wheat Kings (11-2-2-0) play the host Regina Pats (6-6-2-1).

The red-hot Wheat Kings came into the contest riding an eight-game winning streak outscoring their opponents 41-14. Regina came into the game coming off a 6-1 blowout over the Swift Current Broncos and were looking to get back to .500 on the season.

Brandon was a perfect 2-0 against the Pats so far in the season. They won the previous contests 3-2 (March 20) and 7-2 (April 1). The Pats were looking to break both Wheat Kings streaks.

The Pats went with 20-year-old netminder Roddy Ross for the game. The Wheat Kings turned to Connor Ungar between the pipes.

Friday’s game was Connor Bedard’s the last of the 2020-21 season. The exceptional player is off to quarantine before heading to the IIHF U18 World Championships in Texas.

Action around the Pats net against the Wheat Kings April 9, 2021 (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

As for the game itself…

Bedard scored both goals as the Pats beat the number one team in the East Division 2-1 in overtime. The win ended the Wheat Kings’ eight-game winning streak and got the Pats back to .500 on the season.

This game was more about the win, Bedard had just lost his grandfather Garth days earlier and this was an emotional game for him and the rest of the team.

“He’s definitely who I play for now and will for the rest of my life. It’s a really special game and I know he was watching me,” said Bedard after last night’s win.

“It’s definitely a special win on two sides of the front,” Pats head coach Dave Struch explained. “Obviously, with Connor, his evening was really special, the difficulty that the family has gone through and for him to come out and do that tonight was really, really good. And for our team, they played a great game, we played against a really good team.”

First period

A very tentative start to the contest with neither team getting much of an offensive opportunity for most of the first five minutes.

The Pats took a minor about five minutes in, giving the Wheat Kings a powerplay. Regina was successful in killing it off and Brandon had a couple of good scoring chances.

After the powerplay concluded, the game opened up with both teams getting quality opportunities.

The Wheat Kings thought they had finally breached the Pats goal line at 18:09. Referee Cody Beach immediately waved off the potential goal and motioned like it was a glove pass. After review, it was determined to be no goal.

The Pats had a glorious chance right near the end of the period but could not connect.

Brandon went into the break with an 11-8 shot advantage.

Second period

Logan Nijhoff just missed a glorious opportunity when he fired over the net. The Pats corralled it and Bedard got the puck. He made no mistake and buried his 11th just 22 seconds into the frame. Nijhoff and Ryker Evans got the assists on the 1-0 goal. Bedard pointed towards the sky right after he scored the goal as a celebration.

Connor Bedard points skyward to honor his grandfather Garth. April 9, 2021 (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

“It was a lot of emotions. I think on the bench I was tearing up a little and just kind of thinking of him and everything he did, so I think that was just to honor him and his life and kind of celebrate that,” Bedard explained as he pointed to the sky as a celebration.

“It was hard, obviously, and I just really wanted that one today to just honor him.”

Despite the Pats scoring the early goal, the Wheat Kings had taken the territorial advantage. Brandon also hit a couple of posts and they also took over the shot clock as well. A 16-5 second period lead and 27-13 overall.

Third period

Jake Chiasson’s eighth of the season tied the game for the Wheat Kings. His powerplay goal at 1:20 from Ben McCartney tie the game at 1-1.

There was no scoring the rest of the way.

The Wheat Kings took a minor penalty with 29 seconds left in regulation time. They opened the five-minute sudden-death period on a 4-on-3 powerplay.

Brandon led on the shot clock 34-24 after sixty minutes.

Ross played his best game in net for Regina making 33 saves in the win.

Roddy Ross smothers the puck against Brandon April 9, 2021 (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

Overtime

Like it was meant to be, the puck ended up on Bedard’s stick in the overtime period. From the slot, he ripped home the overtime winner giving the Pats a 2-1 victory. His 12th of the season was assisted by Evans. After he scored the winner his teammates left the bench and mobbed him in celebration.

The lone shot of the overtime was the game-winner.

The Pats celebrate Connor Bedard’s game-winning goal April 9, 2021 (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

“For this situation with Connor, for sure it’s difficult, but for him to want to stay and the reason to stay…”  said Struch on Bedard’s choice to stay in Regina to play Friday’s game. “It makes him a special person outside of the game itself. For our organization, for the people here in Regina, it’s a privilege to be around people like that.”

“I knew it was what he would want me to do. He was one of my biggest fans and he loved watching me play. He loved when I played,” said Bedard of his decision to stay and play.

“The boys on the team kind of helped me more than they know, just being able to spend time with them. When I was in my room alone it was really hard, so I was trying to get out and do stuff as much as I could. It was really important for me to come out and play this game and kind of dedicate that to him.”

Bedard’s expectations coming in

“He did as far as the points, for sure,” Struch said of Bedard exceeding expectations.

“We as hockey fans see what he does in a game, and that’s really special, but everything he does before leading into the game and after the game to prepare for the next game, that’s what’s really elite.”

“For the players, his teammates, and everybody to watch that (preparation) take place, that makes it a little less surprising because of his commitment and his determination to do those things at such a high level.”

Pats post-Bedard

“Opportunity,” Struch said of the Pats when Bedard leaves for the Under 18 Championships. “For everybody else to take those minutes, 18 to 20 minutes a night. Opportunity for players to take those minutes… to become part of that offense that he gave us.”

“Obviously, it’s hard but it doesn’t mean we can’t do it. We have played a really strong team game this year and Connor is a big part of it there is no question but he would say it, just as we all believe it. The game is won as a team effort and we are going to have a lot of other guys getting opportunities to create the offense and get those minutes and have an impact on us winning more hockey games.”

Patterings: Bedard leaves with 28 points (12G, 16A) in 15 games. The three stars of the game were swept by the Pats. Bedard (2G), Ross, and Evans (2A) were the stars. The Pats’ next action is Monday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m. against the Winnipeg ICE.