Bedard breaks World Juniors records in spectacular fashion

The hockey community is running out of superlatives to describe 17-year-old Conor Bedard.

He has already surpassed amazing, incredible, and has now approached preeminent at the junior level.

And, just when you think you’ve seen it all from the kid, he continues to drop jaws game in and game out.

Bedard’s three points, including his thrilling overtime game-winner against Slovakia in the quarterfinal, were record breakers on multiple levels. With 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in his World Junior Championship career and 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) the 2023 tournament, Bedard now holds nearly every Canadian World Juniors record. 

“That moment [in overtime] was special for all of us,” Bedard sqid. “It was pretty cool to score that goal, but it was the quarterfinals and we still have a lot of hockey left. I am happy about the win…I was not really thinking about [the records]. Obviously it matters, but for me it is about winning, and that is what we are here to do.”

This is the moment. This is the night. #WorldJuniors@HockeyCanada #CANSVK pic.twitter.com/U7E7DK0llk

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 3, 2023

Surpassing Jordan Eberle’s record of 14 career World Juniors goals and Eric Lindros’ 31 points all-time, Bedard is now the standard bearer for Canadian youth.

Like Eberle, Bedard reached the 14-goal mark in his 12th game. Eberle played in two World Juniors with Canada, making his debut at 18 years old after being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Bedard, now ahead of Eberle’s all-time record, still has two more years of eligibility for Canada, though his inevitable NHL career beginning next season is likely to keep him from competing.

Lindros’ record of 31 career World Juniors points stood for 30 years. The No. 1 pick in the 1991 NHL Draft represented Canada three times at the U20 IIHF tournament, accruing his points over 21 games. Bedard, who is currently averaging 2.4 points-per-game in his World Juniors, is well ahead of Lindros’ 1.29 mark.

As if career records weren’t enough, Bedard has surpassed Dale McCourt and Brayden Schenn’s single tournament Canadian record of 18 points. McCourt set the standard in 1977, with Schenn equaling his total in 2011.

In a tournament that has always been considered one for 19-year-olds, there have been few under-18 players who have dominated. Jaromir Jagr has been proving age is just a number for more than 30 years, beginning with his World Junior Championship in 1990. Jagr tallied 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in his seven games for the then Czechoslovakia, only to be overtaken by Bedard’s 34 and counting.

With all Bedard has accomplished — while still wearing a fishbowl — in the premier junior hockey tournament, he still has his eyes set on being the best to ever do it at the World Juniors.

CONNOR BEDARD HAS BROKEN THE RECORD FOR MOST POINTS BY A CANADIAN IN THEIR WORLD JUNIOR CAREER 🇨🇦🏆 pic.twitter.com/7wZMvXN8c0

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

Peter Forsberg was one of the most electric players in the tournament’s history. In his 14 games played in 1992 and 1993, Forsberg amassed 42 points in 14 games for Sweden in two silver medal runs. In 1993, at age 19, Forsberg put together the greatest World Juniors in history, chalking up 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in seven games — demolishing the previous record of 24 (11 goals, 13 assists) set by Raimo Helminen of Finland in 1984.

To put Bedard’s numbers into perspective, Conor McDavid scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in seven games during his draft year. Bedard, with possibly two games remaining this year, has already macerated McDavid’s mark.

At this point next year, it is all but certain that Bedard will be playing in the NHL as the top overall selection in the 2023 Draft — making this his final World Juniors appearance.

Bedard has cemented himself as likely the most outstanding junior hockey player of all time.

With still a lifetime to go in his hockey career, the path he can carve out for himself is limitless.