Top hockey prospects, best friends Bedard and Cristall set to battle it out in Kelowna

Two of the top prospects in hockey are childhood best friends, but will be enemies on Tuesday night in Kelowna.

Buzz is spreading around Kelowna as Andrew Cristall and the Rockets are to host the Regina Pats and the number one prospect in hockey, Connor Bedard at Prospera Place.

The two 17-year-olds have been playing hockey either on the same team or against each other since they were five-years old, and are excited to play against each other for the first time in their WHL careers.

乌鸦传媒淲e both want to get the win, we both want to out-do each other,乌鸦传媒� said Cristall. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e excited for the game tomorrow for sure.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚 think we乌鸦传媒檝e known each other for over 10 years now,乌鸦传媒� said Bedard. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e super competitive together, whatever it is we乌鸦传媒檙e doing. I mean, he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 beat me much but we乌鸦传媒檙e together all the time, we乌鸦传媒檙e super close. It乌鸦传媒檚 exciting, we乌鸦传媒檒l probably have dinner or something after the game, I乌鸦传媒檝e been watching what he乌鸦传媒檚 been doing this year and obviously we乌鸦传媒檙e super close and getting the chance to play against him and compete against him, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a lot of fun.乌鸦传媒�

The two keep in touch on a regular basis, usually texting each other after one another乌鸦传媒檚 games.

Both have also taken the league by storm. Going into Tuesday night乌鸦传媒檚 contest, Bedard leads the league in scoring by a country mile, and Cristall is tied for second in the category.

In 20 games so far this season, Cristall, the Burnaby native, has 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists), and is currently on an 11-game point streak. Bedard from North Vancouver has been putting up video game numbers throughout his career, including this season. He leads the league with 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) and has at least one point in every game so far this season (24 games).

The expected first-round draft picks in the 2023 NHL Draft have high-praise for each other.

乌鸦传媒淚 think his smarts, he乌鸦传媒檚 got probably the best IQ I乌鸦传媒檝e ever seen, always in the right spot, always making the right play,乌鸦传媒� said Bedard. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 having an unreal year but I乌鸦传媒檓 not surprised at all.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淗is shot is incredible, nothing like I乌鸦传媒檝e ever seen before,乌鸦传媒� said Cristall.

Because of the pandemic restrictions during last season, Bedard and the Pats haven乌鸦传媒檛 been able to travel to B.C. for games. The Pats current roadtrip is Bedard乌鸦传媒檚 first time playing in the WHL throughout his hometown province and he乌鸦传媒檚 been the hottest ticket in every town as every game has been sold out.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building,乌鸦传媒� said Bedard, who乌鸦传媒檚 had his parents, and other family and friends attend the games across the province. 乌鸦传媒淏eing in front of the sold out [WHL] crowds is pretty crazy.乌鸦传媒�

The Pats are currently in the middle of a seven-game roadtrip that includes stops in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George.

And while Bedard is the main attraction as the number one prospect in hockey, he knows how good the players are all around the league.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of guys in this league people are coming to watch, I乌鸦传媒檓 just playing and just one of the guys in the room,乌鸦传媒� said Bedard.

Tuesday乌鸦传媒檚 game at Prospera Place is the first sold out crowd the Rockets have had since before the pandemic as the 6,000-seat stadium plans to have around 6,300-6,400 people with standing room also at capacity. It sold out a few weeks ago, according to Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 exciting,乌鸦传媒� said Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檒l be a pretty cool environment these guys haven乌鸦传媒檛 seen. These games are sold out throughout British Columbia.乌鸦传媒�

When asked if these players are ready to see their first sellout, he said that sold-out crowds used to be the norm and it乌鸦传媒檚 the expectation that head coach Kris Mallette will have his team prepared for it.

The women乌鸦传媒檚 hockey Rivalry Series game at Prospera Place two weeks ago was also sold out.

While both players are expected to be drafted early in the first round of the NHL Draft in June, both are also fans of the Vancouver Canucks after growing up in the Metro-Vancouver area. With the Canucks struggling early to start the season, they could have a chance to draft one of them.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 still cheering for them, just being a fan and what not,乌鸦传媒� said Bedard. 乌鸦传媒淚 haven乌鸦传媒檛 thought about the draft much so I乌鸦传媒檓 just cheering for them like I always have.乌鸦传媒�

Both Bedard and Cristall have a very good chance to leave their respective teams for a while in the coming weeks to have their shot to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors, which are taking place in Halifax and Moncton from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3. Bedard was on last year乌鸦传媒檚 World Junior team.

Tuesday乌鸦传媒檚 match up is the first and only time this season the Rockets and Pats meet. Puck drop at Prospera Place is at 7:05 p.m.

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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