“Tour de Bedard” hits Prince Albert with big buzz

Connor Bedard, left, reacts to scoring a goal in P.A. on Feb. 18, 2022.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - “Hockey Town North” can’t escape the hype for Connor Bedard.

On Friday, the 17-year-old phenom centre and his Regina Pats visit the Art Hauser Centre for the final time in the 2022-23 regular season for a 7 p.m. clash with the host Prince Albert Raiders. With the way the schedule has worked out, Friday’s game marks the only time Bedard will play in Prince Albert in the 2022-23 campaign barring any type of post-season encounter.

He missed the December 9, 2022 contest at the Art Hauser Centre that the Pats claimed 3-2 due to participation in the selection camp for Canada’s world junior team in Moncton, N.B.

When the Pats last visited the Art Hauser Centre for a 4-3 overtime win on December 30, 2022, Bedard was playing for Canada at world juniors, which were being held in Moncton, N.B., and Halifax, N.S.

Canada won gold taking the gold medal final 3-2 in overtime over Czechia this past January 5 in Halifax. Barring something unforeseen, Bedard will be the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft which will be held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 28 to 29. He is rated first among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings.

On Wednesday, the Raiders announced Friday’s encounter with the Pats was sold out. With standing room, attendance at the 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre was capped at 3,289 spectators the last time the Raiders sold out a game.

That came back on May 13, 2019, when the Raiders claimed Game 7 of that year’s WHL Championship Series 3-2 in overtime against the Vancouver Giants with Dante Hannoun scoring the dramatic winner in the extra session.

Connor Bedard drives home a goal on April 2, 2022.

Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt said his squad is looking forward to what awaits his team on Friday.

“It is enjoyable,” said Truitt. “That is what you want.

“You want a packed house here. They are always boisterous and energetic which is going to help us. We need to bring our best game.

“They’ve got the best player in junior hockey right now. We have to find a way to slow him down and obviously get (standings) points that we need. That is what we are striving for and that is what we need.”

The last time Bedard played at the Art Hauser Centre was near the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign on April 2, 2022. He scored the Pats lone goal in a contest the Raiders took 6-1 before their biggest home crowd of that campaign at 3,040 spectators.

At the moment, that attendance figure stands as the Raiders biggest home crowd until the puck is dropped for Friday’s game between the Pats and the Raiders. Currently, the Raiders biggest draw for any home contest in the current campaign came in a 5-2 season opening setback to the Saskatoon Blades on September 23, 2022, which saw 2,798 spectators turn out to the Art Hauser Centre.

After playing for Canada at world juniors, Bedard’s stock and brand grew even more from his performance at that event. Bedard, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, topped the tourney in goals (nine), assists (14), points (23) and had the best plus-minus (+13).

The North Vancouver, B.C., product was named the most valuable player at world juniors along with picking up accolades being named the event’s best forward and a tournament all-star.

Connor Bedard (#98) sets for a faceoff on April 2, 2022.

His tallies for assists and points were new Canadian records for a single world juniors along with setting a new record for points in a tournament by any player aged 18 or younger. In 16 career games played at world juniors, Bedard set new Canadian career records at the event for goals (16) and points (36).

Due to the increase in fandom for Bedard, the Pats had to suspend online sales of their jerseys shortly after the WHL trade deadline passed on January 10 after it was beyond a shadow of a doubt that Bedard would finish his major junior season playing for Regina. A notice on the Pats website said the move was made due to lower inventory levels.

On eBay, Bedard’s first Pats team issued hockey card with a top mint grade of 10 has sold for around $3,400 on a number of occasions. You can find a number of Bedard hockey cards on eBay for around $25, but anything that has a mint grade of 10 usually has bids starting at $1,250.

As for Bedard jerseys, sellers on eBay have autographed versions of his blue Pats jersey for sale in prices ranging from $998 to $2,200. Hockey Canada Bedard jerseys start at $200 for unsigned replica jerseys and go up $2,500 for an autographed jersey.

On January 21, the Pats hosted their Nickelodeon Night, where they wore SpongeBob SquarePants jerseys in their 5-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. The Pats online auctioned off their jerseys from that night with the proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network. The club raised $29,550 and Bedard’s jersey had the highest bid at $13,025.

Since returning to world juniors, Bedard has drawn season high crowds for each of the Pats opponents on the road. That included attracting 17,223 spectators to the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, where the Pats downed the host Hitmen 6-5 after a tiebreaking shootout before a national audience on TSN.

Connor Bedard breaks down the ice in P.A. on April 2, 2022.

When the Pats bus has arrived at an opposing team’s rink, it has been common to see a gathering of 50 people to be waiting to get Bedard’s autograph. When the Pats have had autograph signings at home, people have been waited up to four to six hours due to lengthy lines to get Bedard’s autograph.

Even with the buzz around Bedard, Raiders gritty forward Niall Crocker expects Friday’s sellout crowd will firmly be behind the host side.

“There should be a lot of energy for us,” said Crocker. “I’m just pumped up for that.”

The Raiders currently sit 11^th overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 20-28-3 record and are 10 points back of post-season berth. They will begin the final quarter section of their regular season schedule with Friday’s encounter with the Pats.

The Pats enter the contest with a 25-22-2-1 record and their 53 standings points sees them tied for sixth through eighth in the Eastern Conference with the Swift Current Broncos (25-23-1-2) and the Calgary Hitmen (23-23-5-2). The Medicine Hat Tigers sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-23-5-2 mark one point back of those three squads.

The top eight teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the WHL Playoffs.

Bedard enters the clash with the Raiders having posted 48 goals and 48 assists for 96 points to go with a plus-32 rating in the plus-minus department in 39 games with the Pats. He leads the WHL in goals and points.

If Bedard has a big night, he could hit some milestones against the Raiders including scoring 50 goals in 40 games and hitting the 100-point plateau. So far this season, big nights by Bedard have regularly hit the national highlight shows on TSN and Sportsnet.

Raiders 18-year-old sophomore goaltender Max Hildebrand said he and his teammates will focus on the task at hand of getting the win which would likely mean keeping Bedard off the highlight reels.

Connor Bedard in action in P.A. on Feb. 18, 2022.

“It is just another game for us,” said Hildebrand. “He (Bedard) is a good player.

“We’ll shut him down, but it is just another game.”

NOTES – Raiders centre Hayden Pakkala, who turned 19-years-old in late January, won’t be available for the Raiders on Friday as he sits out the first of a two-game WHL imposed suspension. Pakkala was suspended for receiving a boarding major and a game misconduct for a hit he threw last Saturday on Swift Current Broncos 20-year-old defenceman Sam McGinley in a 4-1 Raiders victory at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders have lots of tickets available for their game this Saturday when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors and centre Brayden Yager at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. Yager, who turned 18-years-old in January, is a highly touted prospected who is expected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Remembering when “Tootoomania” ran wild at the Comuniplex

Jordin Tootoo (#22) battles Grant McNeill (#8) on Feb. 22, 2003.

An appearance by Connor Bedard isn’t the first time an opposing player has created a lot of buzz in a visit to Prince Albert.

On Wednesday, the Raiders announced their game versus Bedard and his Regina Pats at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre is sold out.

Way back in the 2002-03 season, “Tootoomania” was running wild in the WHL. After Canada claimed the silver medal at that season’s world juniors held in Halifax and Sydney, N.S., the hype was high to get out to see Jordin Tootoo of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Wheat Kings high energy right-winger, who stood 5-foot-9 and weighed 182, could play with skill and energy along with delivering big hits. Tootoo had arguably one of the highest complete levels ever seen in the WHL.

Having grown up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and being of Inuit decent, Tootoo was and still is viewed as a big hero in the Indigenous community. After he returned to the Wheat Kings following world juniors, the Indigenous community came out in huge numbers to see Tootoo play during the final months of his WHL career before he moved on to the NHL with the Nashville Predators in the 2003-04 campaign.

The Wheat Kings last two visits of the 2002-03 campaign came in February of 2003. Tootoo had turned 20-years-old on the second of that month.

On February 18, 2003, the Raiders drew 3,185 to the Art Hauser Centre that was then known as the Comuniplex in the building’s old 2,826 seat Smarty box configuration. The Wheat Kings claimed a 5-1 victory and Tootoo posted a plus-two rating in the plus-minus department. Tootoo stuck around to sign autographs for about 800 people following that contest.

Four days later on February 22, 2003, Tootoo and the Wheat Kings made their final stop in Prince Albert and a sellout crowd at that time of 3,504 spectators came out for that contest. Tootoo netted the winning goal and his 30^th tally of the season in a 3-1 Wheat Kings victory. Before that contest, Indigenous leaders from nearby communities presented Tootoo with various tributes and gifts.

In both games, the Indigenous community came out in large numbers to support Tootoo, and their cheers drowned out the regular Raiders faithful. Tootoo received big cheers every time he touched the puck.

“Let’s go Tootoo,” chants also echoed through the rafters of the then Comuniplex.

Tootoo finished the 2002-03 campaign appearing in 51 regular season games for the Wheat Kings posting 35 goals, 39 assists, 216 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating.

From 2003 to 2018, Tootoo played 14 seasons of professional hockey including 13 campaigns in the NHL. He appeared in 723 NHL regular season games posting 65 goals, 96 assists and 1,010 penalty minutes with the Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks.

Tootoo was selected in the fourth round and 98^th overall by the Predators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Now a number of years into retirement, Tootoo is remember as a great teammate by those who played with him and a respected foe by those who played against him. He is active with helping the Indigenous community with outreach and charity work, and he left a competitive legacy on the ice that will never be forgotten.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Beloved Sasakamoose leaves great trailblazing legacy

Fred Sasakamoose 1933-2020

Fred Sasakamoose, right, at the 2018 Memorial Cup.

When I first met Fred Sasakamoose way back on February 25, 2004, he was underestimating the epilogue of his life.

We had a long visit in the old conference room on the second floor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald office building. I was interviewing him for a story for the next day’s paper.

Sasakamoose had recently been in Shaunavon, Sask., as a guest at the Hockey Day in Canada festivities. He attended on an invite from CBC.

During a banquet at that event, longtime Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Dick Irvin Jr. introduced Sasakamoose to the crowd. Irvin summarized Sasakamoose’s place in hockey history.

He was one of the first Indigenous players to play in the NHL. He made his NHL debut on November 20, 1953 with the Chicago Blackhawks playing against the Boston Bruins.

Sasakamoose played one more game with the Blackhawks before being sent back to the junior Moose Jaw Canucks.

With the Canucks in 1953-54, Sasakamoose appeared in 34 regular season games collecting 31 goals and 26 assists. In February of 1954 after the Canucks season finished, Sasakamoose was called back up to the Blackhawks.

The centre played in 11 games in total with Chicago collecting no points and six penalty minutes.

Irvin’s father, Dick Irvin Sr., coached Sasakamoose in Chicago.

At the time I interviewed Sasakamoose in February of 2004, he was 70-years-old. He thought at that time what took place in Shaunavon was a high point in his life.

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A post shared by Brigette Lacquette (@briglacquette)

“That put the icing in my life,” said Sasakamoose. “The finishing touch of the cake.

“The finishing touch on my life, when they put on the icing by Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, by CBC Hockey Night in Canada, (and) by the people of Shaunavon for the invitation. I hope they read this in Shaunavon, and what I finished saying.

“It was the greatest moment of my life.”

Little did Sasakamoose know, his story took on a bigger life from that point.

He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. The Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation member became a member of the Order of Canada in 2018.

On top of those honours, Sasakamoose has been inducted into the Saskatchewan First Nations Sports Hall of Fame, the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame, the Meadow Lake Wall of Fame, the FSIN Circle of Honour and the Canadian Native Hockey Hall of Fame.

Today we are sadden to hear the passing of @FredSasakamoose. You will be greatly missed by our indigenous communities. You have paved the way and allowed us to believe in our dreams. #warrior #leader #Inspiration #nativepride pic.twitter.com/B7pvNFHhCC

— Jordin Tootoo (@Jtootoo22) November 25, 2020

He continued to be an incredible positive influence on young Indigenous athletes and that developed into lifelong friendships into adulthood.

Sasakamoose spoke on the real hard subjects too. Much of his childhood was spent at the St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Sask. During a Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing in Prince Albert in 2012, he publicly acknowledged that he was sexually abused by other children at the school when he was nine years old.

At age seven, he and his brother, Frank, were whisked away by the government to the school.

Sasakamoose overcame all of that adversity to make it to the NHL. Following his time in the NHL, Sasakamoose’s playing career concluded with time spent in various minor leagues.

When he was done playing, he became a band councilor with the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and served one six-year term as Chief.

He spent a large amount of time developing sports programs for Indigenous children.

On Tuesday, Sasakamoose passed away at age 86 after recently being hospitalized for COVID-19.

So sorry to hear about @FredSasakamoose today. Thank you for being a leader and paving the way for all of us indigenous hockey players and helping us dream big. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/SYAYozKDEs

— Theo Fleury (@TheoFleury14) November 24, 2020

Tributes poured in from all over the hockey world, especially from the Indigenous community.

Because of Sasakamoose’s exploits, it allowed the sport of hockey to be blessed with the likes of Bryan Trottier, Theo Fleury, Jordin Tootoo, Brigette Lacquette, Ethan Bear, Brady Keeper, Justin Nachbaur and Jaydon Dureau to follow in the strides Sasakamoose made.

Sasakamoose watched those youngsters grow with great pride and was someone they could always turn to.

A lot of Sasakamoose’s biggest impacts on a number of those individuals came after I did my interview with him back in February of 2004. During that visit, I could tell I was only scratching the surface of the wisdom Sasakamoose, who was born on December 25, 1933, had to share.

It is safe to say some great wisdom was shared with various Indigenous athletes after my visit with him in Prince Albert.

Fred Sasakamoose (#21) in Saskatoon in Jan. 2018.

During the initial aftermath of the news of his passing, it feels like Sasakamoose should have had more opportunities to continue to have a profound impact on people. He was truly a gem of a person.

If each of us could emulate a fraction of who Sasakamoose was, this world really would be a better and more understanding place.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.