It’s a moment that he’ll remember for the rest of his career.
Tuesday evening, North Vancouver whiz Connor Bedard will skate onto the ice for his first-ever game in the National Hockey League in Chicago's season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And, as if the hockey gods ordained, 18-year-old Bedard will spend his NHL debut playing against his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby.
To no one’s surprise, the NHL is taking the opportunity to make the matchup between the two generational talents as momentous as possible, with articles and promotional videos hyping up the event.
“He’s someone that’s come with a lot of expectation,” Crosby says of Bedard in a short video on the NHL opening night matchup. Coming off a year of setting numerous records in junior hockey, and signing with the Blackhawks as the Number 1 pick in this year’s NHL draft in June, the massive anticipation for the young star is of the same ilk as Connor McDavid and, of course, Crosby.
Before going on to win three Stanley Cup championships, the Halifax-born Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history at age 19 in 2007, after being selected as the Number 1 draft pick just two years prior.
But before his rise to certified greatness, Sid the Kid had his first game too, on Oct. 5, 2005, where he had an assist on the first goal of the season, before Pittsburgh lost 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils.
“We all remember our first game,” Crosby told the NHL.
While the two have been in contact before Tuesday’s game, Bedard – who’s noted multiple times that Crosby has been a hockey hero of his since a young age – will still be making an effort not to be “star-struck.” Instead, Bedard said he’ll be treating it like a hockey game “and maybe reflect later.”
Like the uphill battle that all No. 1 draft picks face, Bedard has been given the tough task of reviving a struggling Chicago franchise. The former centre for the Regina Pats has made some highlights in the preseason with the Blackhawks, not shying away from trying to make plays, and scoring one goal – an empty netter against Detroit on Oct. 3.
The puck drops in his NHL debut in Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. PT.
