At the same time, the Regina Pats received their first taste of 15-year-old Moose Jaw Warriors standout Brayden Yager.
And while Yager’s Warriors ended up with a 5-4 overtime win in the Western Hockey League East Division bubble, the only thing that was decided between the two future superstars was exactly that: these two guys are going to be something to watch over the next few years.
Yager scored the first goal of his WHL career in the first period and finished the game with three points -- including an assist on Daemon Hunt’s overtime winner -- while Bedard had two assists in the Pats’ opening period flurry and now has three goals and six points on the season.
A good start, and a sign of things to come for two players who will be measured against each other all through their junior careers.
“I think the competitiveness is there and that’s only natural that it’s going to feed off each other for a bit,” said Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary. “That’s a healthy thing and that’s what it’s all about, whether it’s about competing individually or as a team, it’s all about races and battles within a game and if it’s a head-to-head match-up like that, I think it’s great. It’s good for Moose Jaw and it’s good for Regina and it’s just great for the rivalry. I’m excited to watch it unfold here in the coming years.”
O’Leary had plenty of praise for both players after Tuesday’s contest, especially when it comes to their play away from the puck. In Yager’s case, he’s been able to see that first hand.
“We all know what type of player he is and that he’s real gifted offensively, but when you watch his shifts and you watch his play, he creates so much on his own just by playing an honest game and being on the right side of the puck,” he said. “He’s got a real good stick and real good instincts for where to be. That’s what impresses me the most, and obviously it’s pretty fun to watch him in the offensive zone as well.”
Bedard, meanwhile, carries much the same caché in O’Leary’s eyes.
“He’s another guy you can get fixated on what he can do with the puck, but it’s leading up to those chances, the positions that these guys put themselves in where they’re thinking one or two steps ahead and giving themselves opportunities to showcase their skill,” he said.
“I think that’s what makes them so special. There are lots of guys out there, whatever age, that have the skill level to play at the next level, but it’s that hockey sense and the knack for being in the right spot and the competitiveness to make it all go through… He’s a player who has all of that and is going to be fun to watch.”
Interestingly enough, despite the hard rivalry between the two Trans-Canada Highway clubs the duo have got off to a friendly start, something that was seen when the two came together after the first period.
“It was a class act by him, he congratulated me on my first goal,” Yager said. “It shows you what kind of a person he is, he’s a great kid and we’re buddies. He didn’t have to do that and it was just a nice act and I look forward to going against him the next couple years.”
The youngsters have been in conversation since the start of the campaign, with Yager also congratulating Bedard on his first two goals in the Pats’ opening game of the season.
So the ‘rivalry’ is more of detente at this point.
“Obviously he’s an unbelievable player and he got exceptional status for a reason,” Yager said. “I want to be as good as I can too, but there are 25 other guys working their tails off, too. I think this rivalry is something to watch, Moose Jaw and Regina, and it’s going to be fun.”
The two teams will play three more times through the remainder of the campaign -- on Tuesday, Mar. 30 at 8 p.m., Monday, Apr. 5 at 4 p.m. and Friday, Apr. 23 at 8 p.m.
