‘We don’t want to trade him’: Regina Pats clear up rumours about Bedard ahead of game in Kamloops

“You guys are making it up,” he said.

Blazers head coach and GM Shaun Clouston says he’s been in touch with Paddock, but couldn’t say if it was about Bedard.

“Actually John and I have a really good relationship. We’ve made deals in the past. I’ve talked to John, I’ve talked and texted with every other GM in the league, so it is what it is,” said Clouston. “It’s part of the job to make sure you stay in touch with people and you have conversations.”

Whatever his status, Bedard, the projected first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, plays in Kamloops for the first and likely only time tonight, as the Pats visit the Blazers for their fourth of five on the B.C. road trip.

Bedard has close relationships with some of the Blazers, playing with Logan Stankoven on two gold-medal winning teams and also playing minor hockey with Blazers forward Fraser Minten.

“It’ll be a lot of fun. I think I know five guys pretty well on this team from minor hockey and obviously with Stanks with Hockey Canada. It’s fun playing against guys you know and you’re buddies with, so we’ve been talking about it a bit. I think we’re all excited,” he said.

Minten added, “He was even more dominant back then. Automatically a couple goals a game back in Bantam and Midget. Yeah, he’s been awesome for a long time.”

Bedard won two gold medals with Stankoven, one at the U18 world championships in 2021 when Stankoven scored the game-winner against Russia.

They also recently won another gold at the world junior championships this summer. Bedard had some high praise for his former Team Canada teammate.

“It’ll be exciting. I think he’s probably the best player in the league, so to match up against him is going to be fun and a good challenge for us,” Bedard said.

When asked, “Sorry, did you say Logan Stankoven’s the best player in the league. I thought that was you?” He responded, “He’s nuts, what he’s doing. I try to watch him a lot. What he’s done in this league is crazy, so I wouldn’t say I’m better than him, but it’s going to be a fun game.”

Stankoven said, “I haven’t chatted with him recently. Obviously going to have the chance to see him pretty soon here at the world junior camp. For him, [attention is] something you expect to see every day. With him being such a great player, the media is going to follow you everywhere. As we’ve seen, every rink he’s played in B.C. so far has sold out. We’re going to be expecting a good crowd here.”

He added, “It’s an easier game to get up for and all of us guys are going to be looking forward to it. Should be a great crowd.”

The game is sold out with standing room only, as Blazers fans get their one and only chance to see Connor Bedard.

by Chad Klassen

‘We don’t want to trade him’: Regina Pats clear up rumours about Bedard ahead of game in Kamloops

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