Two of the top prospects in hockey are childhood best friends, but will be enemies on Tuesday night in Kelowna.

Buzz is spreading around Kelowna as Andrew Cristall and the Rockets are to host the Regina Pats and the number one prospect in hockey, Connor Bedard at Prospera Place.

The two 17-year-olds have been playing hockey either on the same team or against each other since they were five-years old, and are excited to play against each other for the first time in their WHL careers.

B次元官网网址淲e both want to get the win, we both want to out-do each other,B次元官网网址� said Cristall. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited for the game tomorrow for sure.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e known each other for over 10 years now,B次元官网网址� said Bedard. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e super competitive together, whatever it is weB次元官网网址檙e doing. I mean, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 beat me much but weB次元官网网址檙e together all the time, weB次元官网网址檙e super close. ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting, weB次元官网网址檒l probably have dinner or something after the game, IB次元官网网址檝e been watching what heB次元官网网址檚 been doing this year and obviously weB次元官网网址檙e super close and getting the chance to play against him and compete against him, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�

The two keep in touch on a regular basis, usually texting each other after one anotherB次元官网网址檚 games.

Both have also taken the league by storm. Going into Tuesday nightB次元官网网址檚 contest, Bedard leads the league in scoring by a country mile, and Cristall is tied for second in the category.

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In 20 games so far this season, Cristall, the Burnaby native, has 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists), and is currently on an 11-game point streak. Bedard from North Vancouver has been putting up video game numbers throughout his career, including this season. He leads the league with 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) and has at least one point in every game so far this season (24 games).

The expected first-round draft picks in the 2023 NHL Draft have high-praise for each other.

B次元官网网址淚 think his smarts, heB次元官网网址檚 got probably the best IQ IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen, always in the right spot, always making the right play,B次元官网网址� said Bedard. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 having an unreal year but IB次元官网网址檓 not surprised at all.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗is shot is incredible, nothing like IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen before,B次元官网网址� said Cristall.

Because of the pandemic restrictions during last season, Bedard and the Pats havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to travel to B.C. for games. The Pats current roadtrip is BedardB次元官网网址檚 first time playing in the WHL throughout his hometown province and heB次元官网网址檚 been the hottest ticket in every town as every game has been sold out.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building,B次元官网网址� said Bedard, whoB次元官网网址檚 had his parents, and other family and friends attend the games across the province. B次元官网网址淏eing in front of the sold out [WHL] crowds is pretty crazy.B次元官网网址�

The Pats are currently in the middle of a seven-game roadtrip that includes stops in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George.

And while Bedard is the main attraction as the number one prospect in hockey, he knows how good the players are all around the league.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of guys in this league people are coming to watch, IB次元官网网址檓 just playing and just one of the guys in the room,B次元官网网址� said Bedard.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game at Prospera Place is the first sold out crowd the Rockets have had since before the pandemic as the 6,000-seat stadium plans to have around 6,300-6,400 people with standing room also at capacity. It sold out a few weeks ago, according to Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting,B次元官网网址� said Hamilton. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檒l be a pretty cool environment these guys havenB次元官网网址檛 seen. These games are sold out throughout British Columbia.B次元官网网址�

When asked if these players are ready to see their first sellout, he said that sold-out crowds used to be the norm and itB次元官网网址檚 the expectation that head coach Kris Mallette will have his team prepared for it.

The womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey Rivalry Series game at Prospera Place two weeks ago was also sold out.

While both players are expected to be drafted early in the first round of the NHL Draft in June, both are also fans of the Vancouver Canucks after growing up in the Metro-Vancouver area. With the Canucks struggling early to start the season, they could have a chance to draft one of them.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still cheering for them, just being a fan and what not,B次元官网网址� said Bedard. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 thought about the draft much so IB次元官网网址檓 just cheering for them like I always have.B次元官网网址�

Both Bedard and Cristall have a very good chance to leave their respective teams for a while in the coming weeks to have their shot to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors, which are taking place in Halifax and Moncton from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3. Bedard was on last yearB次元官网网址檚 World Junior team.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 match up is the first and only time this season the Rockets and Pats meet. Puck drop at Prospera Place is at 7:05 p.m.

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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