On Thursday morning, the IIHF’s Historical Committee named the seven candidates for the inaugural . Connor Bedard is one of the seven players named on the list.
The other six finalists are Andres Ambuhl (F, Switzerland), Adam Fantilli (F, Canada), former Blackhawk Dominik Kubalik (F, Czechia), JJ Peterka (F, Germany), Moritz Seideඣr (D, Germany), and Arturs Silovs (G, Latvia).
This is the first year for this trophy. According to the release from the IIHF, “voting will take place among media and invited members of the IIHF family,” and the winner will be announced on Monday, June 19.
Bedard already made history at the CHL awards, sweeping the CHL’s Top Prospect Award presented by Kubota Canada, the Top Scorer Award, and the David Branch Player of the Year Award — no player had ever won all three in the same year.
The likely No. 1 overall pick to the Blackhawks (in 20 days, not that we’re counting down) has been labeled a “generational prospect” since he was 14 years old. And his numbers over the past couple years have backed up that label with incredible numbers the likes of which we’ve never seen.
Bedard led Canada to two World Junior Championships in the past year, one rescheduled tour🌜nament in late-summer last year and then in the winter edition. He scored 13 goals with 18 assists for 31 points and was plus-23 in 14 games in those two tournaments.
Oh, he also scored 71 goals with 72 assists in only 57 regular season games for Regina in the WHL and fo😼llowed that up with 10 goals and 10 assists in only seven playoff games this past season.
