Memorial Cup: Connor Bedard will not line up behind the Remparts!

< /p> UPDATE DAY

KAMLOOPS | Connor Bedard smiles when asked for his prediction for the Memorial Cup final between the Quebec Remparts and the Seattle Thunderbirds.  

“I have to take the WHL team!” he says, laughing. It will be quite a game. I can't wait to see.”

Bedard watched with some bitterness Friday night's Memorial Cup semi-final game between the Thunderbirds and the Peterborough Petes. In Kamloops, on the sidelines of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) gala, during which he won three awards on Saturday, including MVP of the season, Bedard would have liked to be on the ice.

< p>“I would still like to play and that's what crossed my mind while watching the match. Watching a tournament you might be playing hurts. I hadn't had the opportunity to play against Seattle this season, they're a special team.”

Ready for the draft

From Kamloops, Bedard will head to Buffalo, where the traditional NHL Combine kicks off on Monday.

He will go, even though his fate is already cast and everyone knows that he will become the property of the Chicago Blackhawks on June 28.

Everyone except him, apparently.

“I've said it 100 times but they haven't asked me yet so I'm not focusing too much on it,” he replies when asked if he's started inquiring about the main attractions of the Windy City.

In addition to the Most Valuable Player trophy, Bedard won the top draft prospect as well as Canada's leading scorer.

Darveau, goalie year

For his part, Victoriaville Tigres goalkeeper Nathan Darveau was voted goalkeeper of the year in the country. 

The native of Rouyn-Noranda maintained a 2.34 goals-against average and .929 save percentage last season.

Despite his small size (he is 5'8″), Darveau continues to defy the odds and his title of best goalkeeper in the country has, in a way, been another snub to his critics.

“Ever since I was young, everyone doubted me because of my greatness. To win this award, I show others that I have my place with the best.”

Massé, rookie par excellence

The only other player in the QMJHL honored on Saturday, Chicoutimi Saguenéens forward Maxim Massé received the title of rookie of the year.

At 16, the third overall pick in the 2022 draft finished with 62 points in 63 games, the second highest total for players in their first year in Canada behind Alexander Suzdalev of the Regina Pats. Connor Bedard's teammate, however, was 18 years old.

“It means a lot to me. You look at the names on that trophy and there are a lot of established players in the NHL. I will continue to work hard to keep up this momentum.

Maxim Massé received his trophy from the hands of Marie-Philip Poulin.

I'm proud to have kept my consistency from game to game. The fact that my coach trusted me throughout the year played a positive role in all of this.”

For their part, Olen Zellweger was voted defender of the year and Ottawa 67's head coach Dave Cameron was recognized as the best coach in the country for the past season. Evan Vierling (gentleman of the year), Colby Barlow (student player) and Dalyn Wakely (humanitarian player) were the other recipients.