Tonight will be another chance for Connor Bedard to display his skills on a national stage.

The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game takes place in Vancouver, a familiar setting for the 17-year old. With the game in his hometown, he said that he was excited to have a lot of friends and family attend the game this evening.

Bedard is the odds on favourite to be selected as the first overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft this June in Nashville.

Even with no points on the line, the Pats captain believes tonight’s game will be more aggressive than a typical all-star game.

“We all want to be competitive and no one wants to lose.”

Despite going into the top prospects game with a new set of teammates, Bedard believes it won’t much take time to develop chemistry with the players taking part in the Top Prospects Game.

“It makes easier as good as they are here. ”

It has been less than a month since the North Vancouver product returned to the Queen City after winning a World Junior gold medal in Halifax. He said that he was happy to be back in Regina with his Pat teammates.

“You miss those guys when you’re gone.”

He was also pleased with the recent play of the Pats who have won four out of their last five games with all their wins coming at the Brandt Centre.

It has been a successful 2022-23 campaign in the WHL with the Pats. In what will likely be his final season before turning pro, he sits on top on the overall lists in the Western Hockey League for goals (39), assists (42) and points (81). The Pats forward currently is on a 32-game point streak after not scoring in the opening game of the season.

Opening faceoff for tonight’s CHL/NHL Top Prospects game is 9:00 pm, Saskatchewan time.

Next action for Bedard in Regina is this Sunday when the Pats host the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Brandt Centre with a 4:00 faceoff. The game will be the final before the Pats go on a four-game road trip through Alberta.