Connor Bedard’s show at the 2022-23 World Junior Hockey Championship came to a predictable end Thursday night, with Canada winning the gold medal and the 17-year-old sensation being named the tournament’s most valuable player.
This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, as the name “Connor Bedard” was basically synonymous with this year’s competition. It seemed as if every period he played produced a new dazzling highlight and every game a new record was broken.
But exactly how many records did he break with his stunning performance in Eastern Canada? Let’s take a look, shall we?
With 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in seven games at this year’s world junior tournament, Bedard set a new Canadian record for points in a single tournament, surpassing Dale McCourt (1977) and Braden Schenn, who both had 18.
His 14 assists also set another Canadian record for assists in a tournament.
Incredibly, the Regina Pat center did all of this at just 17 years old, while also passing Jaromir Jagr for tournament points by a player 18 or younger.
Peter Forsberg holds the highest total in tournament history, scoring an incredible 31 points in 1993.
Bedard also etched his name into Canada’s all-time world junior career record book by scoring 36 points in 16 tournament games (Note: this point total includes the two games from the canceled 2021-22 tournament). He passed Eric Lindros, who had 31 total in 21 career games. Bedard was able to break his record in just 14 games.
The projected top pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft also passed Jordan Eberly for goals (14) at the World Juniors, scoring 16 of his own.
The biggest goal of his career for the red and white was undoubtedly his Herculean effort in extra time to give Canada a sudden-death victory over Slovakia, sending them to the semi-finals.
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With many expecting this to be Bedard’s last appearance for Canada on this stage, no one can question his ability to perform on the international stage, not with his name etched in Canadian history.
But all the individual accomplishments and recognition would surely have come to nothing for the young phenom if he hadn’t helped his team win gold medals, Canada’s 20th tournament win in history.
“We didn’t come here to play in the finals,” Bedard said after Canada’s semifinal win over the United States on Wednesday. “We came here to win.”
And they won, thanks in large part to Bedard’s sensational performances over the past two weeks.
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