Connor Bedard is the real deal. He is only sixteen years old and just scored four goals, including a natural hat trick. Connor Bedard would go on to finish the game versus Austria with five points. Bedard is the first sixteen-year-old to have a hat trick in the tournament since Wayne Gretzky back in 1977. And Connor McDavid would only get 4 points total during the tournament when he played at the age of 16. Bedard was just electric during the game and was the best player on the ice. Bedard would score many different ways. His first goal was on the power play where Bedard would take a one-timer from the bumper role, get his own rebound, and put it in the net. Just over a minute later, Bedard would pick off a pass and use his speed to create a 2 on 0 situation, and with the defender at his back would make a great pass to his teammate who passed it back, and Bedard would slide it into the open net. Bedard would make a great move for his hat trick goal, leaving him wide open in the slot, and he would not miss sending it top shelf. Bedard would go on to score his fourth goal of the game by redirecting a shot in with a beautiful tip showing off his soft hands.
Connor Bedard has been talked about as the clear number one pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The 5’9″ forward from North Vancouver has really put the pressure on himself to be the next great Canadian hockey player. Now he’s showing why on the world stage versus players that are much older and more developed. Will Bedard be the next McDavid, or will he be better?
