Bedard, Connor (2005-…), is a Canadian hockey player. He plays the center position in the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2023, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. In 2024, Bedard won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year. 
Bedard was born on July 17, 2005, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He began playing hockey at the age of 5. His fame later grew as he played for Vancouver-area club teams, and highlights of his performances were posted on the internet. He soon began to receive a lot of attention in the media.
In 2020, Hockey Canada, the country’s national governing body for the sport, granted Bedard exceptional player status, allowing him to play in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) before he turned 16. The CHL is the organization that oversees high-level amateur hockey in Canada and some U.S. states. Bedard was then drafted by the Regina Pats.
In 2023, Bedard led Canada to a gold medal in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Juniors hockey tournament. The IIHF named Bedard the most valuable player of the tournament and Male Player of the Year. Also in 2023, Bedard earned the CHL Top Prospect award, the Top Scorer award, and the David Branch Player of the Year award. He was the first CHL player to win all three awards in a single season.
