Canadian Sport School Hockey League student athlete Connor Bedard has been granted exceptional player status and therefore is eligible to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a 15-year-old.
The decision comes after a review process was administered by BC Hockey with a Hockey Canada Special Evaluation Panel assembled to evaluate Bedard’s potential in the areas of hockey skills, academic ability and his mental and physical maturity.
Bedard, 14, has attended the West Van Academy the past two seasons, most recently being named the 2020 CSSHL U18 Prep Division MVP, as an underage, after leading the division in scoring with 84 points (43-41-84) in 36 regular season games.
During the 2018-19 season, the North Vancouver, B.C. product was named the CSSHL’s U15 Prep Division MVP after leading the division in scoring with 88 points (64-24-88) in 30 regular season games.
Bedard becomes the first player in Western Canada ever granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada.
