Elite prospect Connor Bedard takes part in drills at the PEP Prospects Camp at Kal Tire Place North in Vernon Thursday. (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Prospects camp at KTPN

Young hockey phenom skates in Vernon

Jul 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM

One of the most talked about young hockey prospects in Canada was on the ice in Vernon this week.

Connor Bedard, a 15-year-old forward who plays for the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, took part in a prospects camp put on by Power Edge Pro Hockey (PEP) at Kal Tire Place North on Thursday.

The North Vancouver product, who turns 16 on Saturday, is projected to be the top pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Bedard, a centre, was selected by the Pats first overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft as the first ever WHL player of exceptional status.

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Bedard, who is listed at five-foot-nine and 180 pounds, had 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 15 games for the Pats in the shortened WHL 2020-21 season. He was named WHL Rookie of the Year.

The young phenom also led Canada to gold at the 2021 Under-18 world championships in Frisco, Texas.

PEP prospects camp at Kal Tire Place North July 16. (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)

Bedard was part of more than 20 elite hockey prospects from Western Canada (aged 14 to 17) at the camp, which was scheduled to wrap up Friday with scrimmages.