If some still doubted it… Connor Bedard will not only be the first overall pick in 2023, but he may be the best youngster to enter the NHL since Connor McDavid.
Canada weren’t up against a powerhouse Wednesday at the World Junior Championship, but Germany held mighty Sweden the day before losing just 1-0 and the Canadians had a lot to be forgiven for after Monday’s loss against Czechia.
Bedard imposed an unsustainable pace on the Germans from his first appearance on the ice and what followed was to allow us to witness a splendid spectacle: the young man amassed three goals and four assists and Canada crushed Germany 11-2 .
PHOTO DARREN CALABRESE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Connor Bedard tied a Canadian record for most points in a game. Dave Andreychuk (1983, Norway), Mike Cammalleri (2002, France), Gabriel Bourque (2010, Latvia) and Brendan Morrow (1999, Kazakhstan) share this record, but they were 19 years old. Step 17.
Not only did Bedard score two of his three goals with his powerful shot, but three of his light passes allowed teammate Dylan Guenther to score three as well. Bedard made the same play three times: a fake shot, then a cross pass to Guenther, an Arizona Coyotes forward, who was waiting for the one-timer.
You would have to be extraordinarily bad faith not to see Bedard as the indisputable first choice in the next draft. After his 100 points, including 51 goals, in 62 games with Regina in the Western Junior League at age 16, his 64 points, including 27 goals, in 28 games this season, his 11 shots on goal against the Czech Republic in the first game of this Championship, after amassing 8 points in the previous tournament last summer, there is this 7-point game after the rumble of the last few days. We are starting to run out of superlatives in his case…
In a more subdued but effective role, Canadian prospect Joshua Roy, a 2021 fifth-round pick, had another good game, this time with Logan Stankoven and Bedard on the second line.
This prolific scorer in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League stands out for his defensive play and his work along the ramps. He adds tools to his chest that will help him break into the National League.
Canada will face Austria on Thursday, who must already be starting to have nightmares, after defeats of 11-0 against Sweden and 9-0 against the Czech Republic…
Filip Mesar and the Slovaks surprise
PHOTO RON WARD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Filip Mesar (left) battles for the puck with Luke Hughes.
We did not give much of the skin of this young Slovak formation at the dawn of the tournament, especially in the absence of Juraj Slafkovsky, retained in Montreal.
However, the Slovaks upset the Americans 6-3 in the only other game on Wednesday.
The late first-round pick (26e in total) of the Canadian in 2022, Filip Mesar, played an inspired game. He scored his team’s fourth goal, a lucky goal, it must be said, in addition to creating numerous scoring chances.
Mesar was part of the quartet of Slovak attackers employed more than 20 minutes, with Adam Sykora, Alex Ciernik and especially the center Dalibor Dvorsky, only 17, who may interest the Canadian with one of his two first choices. round.
A very disappointing match for the Americans, in particular their best defender and captain Luke Hughes, fourth choice overall in 2021, excruciatingly soft and lacking in concentration.
The Canadiens’ late second-round pick in 2022, Lane Hutson, has had good times and not so good. His penalty in the second period cost a goal; his turnover in opposing territory a second. He also got an assist, his first point of the tournament.
We reunited him with Hughes in the third period in hopes of creating a bit of an offense and the two didn’t leave the ice often, but it was too late.
Late in the game, Logan Cooley, the third overall pick in 2022, lost the drive trying to outsmart three opponents. This game symbolized the setbacks of his team.