Call it the Connor Bedard boost.

The 17-year-old Regina Pats forward keeps packing arenas in Western Canada after his electrifying performance in last monthB次元官网网址檚 world junior menB次元官网网址檚 hockey championship.

The projected first overall pick in JuneB次元官网网址檚 NHL draft was filling CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Saddledome on Wednesday after junior hockey rinks were at capacity in his previous five games.

In anticipation of ticket demand, the Calgary Hitmen expanded sales beyond the usual lower bowl for major junior games to the SaddledomeB次元官网网址檚 upper sections.

A Hitmen spokesperson said 16,700 tickets had been sold by mid-afternoon for WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game.

The Western Hockey League game, also televised on TSN, offered the largest in-house audience of BedardB次元官网网址檚 career.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty sure that would be the most,B次元官网网址� Bedard said in a pre-game meeting with media at a downtown Calgary hotel.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot, so itB次元官网网址檚 exciting for all of us to have that and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 something you donB次元官网网址檛 really get tired of.B次元官网网址�

Edmonton and Calgary have the two Western Hockey League teams that share an arena with an NHL club.

BedardB次元官网网址檚 last Saddledome outing Oct. 2 drew 3,279.

But since smashing multiple records and earning tournament MVP at the menB次元官网网址檚 junior championship in Halifax with 23 points in nine games, BedardB次元官网网址檚 been putting bums in seats at home and on the road.

There was an uptick in NovemberB次元官网网址檚 WHL gates when Bedard and the Pats were in town, but heB次元官网网址檚 an even hotter ticket now.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game in Red Deer, Alta., was a sellout at 7,287.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes say no more tickets are available for FridayB次元官网网址檚 game in the teamB次元官网网址檚 5,900-seat building.

Another full house of over 7,000 is projected Sunday in Medicine Hat.

B次元官网网址淥n the road, they donB次元官网网址檛 like you as much, which is fun,B次元官网网址� Bedard said. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e home theyB次元官网网址檙e cheering for you, so either way youB次元官网网址檙e kind of getting fired up for it.B次元官网网址�

Fans in WHL markets are taking advantage of the chance to see a future NHL superstar for $15 to $30 instead over twice the price when he likely plays in the NHL next season.

BedardB次元官网网址檚 42 goals and 43 assists in 34 games topped the WHL at a blistering 2.5 points per game.

B次元官网网址淚t seems like thereB次元官网网址檚 a certain level of elite players who are B次元官网网址� so bought in, so focused, so driven or pay so much attention to detail,B次元官网网址� said Pats coach and general manager John Paddock, who previously coached the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.

B次元官网网址淔or me, thatB次元官网网址檚 him. HeB次元官网网址檚 able to shut out the outside noise for the most part and be himself.

B次元官网网址淚 see him every day. The best way to say it is there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any indication heB次元官网网址檚 not going to be what everybody talks about.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been under the microscope for quite awhile, but clearly itB次元官网网址檚 gotten bigger as the stages get bigger and he gets a little bit older.B次元官网网址�

Bedard of North Vancouver, B.C., hasnB次元官网网址檛 let up since the world junior tournament with 16 goals and eight assists in seven WHL games.

B次元官网网址淚 guess if itB次元官网网址檚 possible, (heB次元官网网址檚) even more focused and more driven and heB次元官网网址檚 determined to play in playoff games with us and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 the biggest driver of him right now,B次元官网网址� Paddock said.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what he wants.B次元官网网址�

The Pats (22-21-2-1) were tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with 19 games remaining in their regular season.

Bedard being held off the scoresheet in the NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 26 in Langley, B.C. B次元官网网址� also a sellout B次元官网网址� is unlikely to dent his stock for the June 28 draft in Nashville, Tenn.

His game-changing abilities in Halifax, competing with and against players two years older, solidified top-prospect status.

BedardB次元官网网址檚 three-deke overtime goal in a quarterfinal win over Slovakia had Canadian fans in the building and watching at home both exhaling with relief and marvelling at his skill.

B次元官网网址淲hen you get to be with all those guys, the best players in the country and playing against the best players in the world, it always helps,B次元官网网址� the PatsB次元官网网址� captain said.

B次元官网网址淵ou can always learn a lot and I think I was able to do that.B次元官网网址�

Bedard says striving for the playoffs is on his mind more at this point of the season than hearing his name called first by an NHL club in Nashville.

B次元官网网址淭hat would be pretty special. ItB次元官网网址檚 February now. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty far away,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not thinking about that, but obviously it would be pretty cool.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擠onna Spencer, The Canadian Press