Connor Bedard nets Bob Clarke Trophy as WHL’s top scorer
All those snipes from Connor Bedard has netted him one more goal.
The Bob Clarke Trophy.
Bedard has won the Bob Clarke Trophy as WHL top scorer, the Western Hockey league announced Wednesday.
The 17-year-old, who has topped FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2023 NHL Draft, led all WHL skaters with 143 points during the regular season — including a WHL-leading 71 goals. His 72 assists were good enough to finish tied atop the league charts, too. His goal total paced all members of the 2023 draft class, while his assist total tied Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars for tops among all first-year eligibles.
He is is the first WHL player to surpass the 140-point plateau since three skaters — Mark Deyell, Frank Banham, and Hnat Domenichelli — all achieved the feat in 1995-96. Since 1996-97, only five other WHL players have reached the 130-point plateau, per the WHL.
Bedard was held off the scoresheet only five times in 57 games, and registered a 35-game point-scoring streak beginning September 24, 2022 and through February 1, 2023. In the 35-game run, he registered 90 points (44 goals, 46 assists) for a 2.60 points-per-game average.
The North Vancouver, British Columbia product has 271 points (134 goals, 137 assists) in 134 career WHL games since being the first player ever granted exceptional status into the WHL.