So much for the second six-point game of Connor Bedard’s WHL career.
The Regina Pats beat the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers, 6-3, on Wednesday night and Bedard, who leads the WHL in goals, assists and points, originally was credited with a goal and five assists.
However, one those assists appears to have disappeared at some point in the wee hours of Thursday. Bedard had been awarded an assist on the Pats’ final goal; however, his name no longer appears where it had been.
So . . . Bedard now leads the WHL with 58 assists and 110 points. Yes, he also leads the league in goals, with 52.
The Pats are scheduled to face the Wheat Kings in Brandon tonight. Yes, the Travellin’ Bedards have sold out another arena.
It would seem that you can scratch Chilliwack off the list of potential soft landing spots for a WHL franchise.
Here’s Eric Welsh of the Chilliwack Progress:
“Is the Western Hockey League returning to Chilliwack?
“That answer is no, according to the owners of the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. The return of major junior hockey would have to come with the blessing of the Chiefs, who also own and operate the Chilliwack Coliseum. They re-affirmed their commitment to the BCHL and junior A hockey when asked about the rumours this week.
“ ‘We’re flattered being identified as a top junior hockey market in Canada,’ said Barry Douglas, the Chiefs’ vice-president of business operations. “But Chiefs ownership is committed to the BCHL and is thrilled with the support the Chiefs receive in Chilliwack.’ ”
Welsh ended his story with this: “The Progress reached out to the Western Hockey League for comment but did not receive a reply.”
The WHL is nothing if not consistent.
Welsh’s complete story is right here.
F Gavin McKenna set a record for most points in one Canada Winter Games hockey competition on Thursday. McKenna, from Whitehorse, Yukon, finished with 29 points, including 14 goals, in six games to break the record of 27 that had been shared by François Methot (Quebec, 1997) and Kelsey Tessier (New Brunswick, 2007). . . . Yukon finished 10th, its best performance ever in the tournament. . . . McKenna, who was in on 84 per cent of Yukon’s goals, also set a tournament record for goals. His 14 assists are tied for second on the all-time list . . . McKenna, who turned 15 on Dec. 20, plays at the Southern Alberta Hockey Academy. He was selected by the Medicine Hat Tigers with the first overall pick in the WHL’s 2022 draft. He has played 11 games with the Tigers this season and has recorded eight assists. Four of those came in his first career game. . . . McKenna will be eligible for the NHL’s 2026 draft.
The Red Deer Rebels will be without D Christoffer Sedoff for four games as he serves a suspension after he took a headshot major and game misconduct during a 4-1 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Monday. . . . D Pasha Bocharov, the victim of the hit, is listed by the Tigers as being out day-to-day. . . . Sedoff will miss two home games — tonight against the Winnipeg Ice and Saturday against the Kelowna Rockets. He also will sit for two road games — at Prince Albert on Tuesday and Saskatoon on Wednesday.
The U of Saskatchewan Huskies went into Calgary and beat the Dinos, 5-3, on Thursday night in Game 1 of their Canada West semifinal series. The Dinos went into the game on a record 23-game winning streak; they hadn’t lost since Oct. 14. . . . The Dinos erased a 3-1 deficit on two third-period goals a minute apart by F Jake Gricius, but D Shane Collins put the Huskies back in front at 8:53 and F Justin Ball got the empty-netter. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Calgary. . . . The other semifinal, with the UBC Thunderbirds at the Alberta Golden Bears, opens tonight in Edmonton.
If the WHL playoffs started today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Winnipeg (1) vs. Medicine Hat (8)
Red Deer (2) vs. Calgary (7)
Saskatoon (3) vs. Regina (6)
Moose Jaw (4) vs. Lethbridge (5)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Seattle (1) vs. Kelowna (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Portland (3) vs. Prince George (6)
Tri-City (4) vs. Everett (5)
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THURSDAY’S WHL HIGHLIGHTS:
No games scheduled.
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TAKING NOTE 