Connor Bedard celebrates one of his 12 goals in the hub season last year in Regina. (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Back to the ice

Containing Connor, a task easier said than done

Oct 1, 2021 | 12:09 PM

For the first two games of their season, the Prince Albert Raiders will take on the Regina Pats, and thus, the first and only WHL player to receive exceptional status— Connor Bedard. The game plan for any team playing the Pats this year will be how to contain or at least slowdown Bedard.

That’s easier said than done. In his 15-year-old season, Bedard won the WHL’s Rookie of the Year Award. He scored 12 goals and 28 points in 15 games before he won a gold medal at the World U18 Hockey Challenge.

Last season, Bedard was a thorn in the Raiders’ side and scored two goals and two assists in the two games he played against the Raiders. Bedard two goals in his WHL debut on March 12 Subway Hub Centre season against the Raiders. Keeping an eye on number 98 will be key for the Raiders as they begin their season.

Throughout the preseason, Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe has gotten some significant ice-time with Bedard, including on the power play.

The Raiders will hope to create some offence of their own, but won’t have the services of Tyson Laventure, who is still recovering from an upper-body injury suffered in the preseason. Laventure seemed to save his best games for the Pats in the hub season, as seven of the eight points he scored in 23 games came against the Pats (four goals, three assists).

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Returning from NHL camp

Late on Thursday evening, the Arizona Coyotes reassigned Reece Vitelli back to the Raiders. Defenceman Landon Kosior (Los Angeles Kings) and goaltender Carter Serhyenko (Calgary Flames) have already returned. First rounders Kaiden Guhle (Montreal Canadiens), Ozzy Wiesblatt (San Jose Sharks), and Nolan Allan (Chicago Blackhawks) are all still working with their big clubs.

On the Pats’ side, the Seattle Kraken assigned Ryker Evans back to the Regina Pats Friday morning, and Czech Import Stanislav Svozil started his trip from the Columbus Blue Jackets to join the Regiment.

The Raiders will begin their home-and-home series against the Pats at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday at 7 p.m., before a 1 p.m. game on Saturday at the Brandt Centre. CBC will be broadcasting Saturday’s match.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW