VANCOUVER – Missed appointment for young Connor Bedard! The Chicago Blackhawks lost by a score of 4 to 1 against the Canucks on Saturday night in Vancouver, while the region’s child prodigy played his first game as a National Hockey League player at Rogers Arena.
• Also read: Three shutouts in the same evening
Just like many members of the Bedard family present at the match, Mr. Ron Chapman was certainly not going to miss this great event. A former fan of the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the man has also closely followed the Canucks over the decades. However, as soon as Bedard was drafted by the Chicago club in 2023, he changed affiliation to the Blackhawks.
Proudly wearing his jersey autographed by Connor Bedard, Ron Chapman, a native of Lynn Valley like the young hockey player, made it a point to attend the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Canucks, Saturday, November 16, 2024, in Vancouver . Bedard was then in his first game at Rogers Arena as a National Hockey League player.
Photo Benoît Rioux
“Bedard is originally from Lynn Valley, where I also live,” said the octogenarian we met a little before the match, at the entrance to Rogers Arena. I have seen him play since he was little at the same arena where I played in another era and where I was a coach. I wouldn’t say I’m a great friend of the family, but I know his mother and father well.”
Mr. Chapman also proudly wore a number 98 jersey autographed by the prolific forward, only 19 years old.
Three goals this season
Logically, Canucks jerseys remained much more numerous than those of the Blackhawks among fans present at the game. Now, you didn’t have to look very long to see other sweaters bearing Bedard’s image.
From the warm-up period, the young star was very popular with the younger fans, some having made posters to welcome him home or in the hope of getting a puck.
Connor Bedard, during the warm-up period.
Photo Derek Cain / Getty Images via AFP
Also crossed a few moments before the game, Rob Rydberg formed a nice trio of Bedard supporters with his sons Robbie and Tyler.
“We are originally from Chicago, but we moved to Vancouver four years ago,” said his father, a Hawks fan since his childhood.
“Bedard is such a good playmaker and he really has a very good shot, even if he hasn’t scored often since the start of the season,” added Mr. Rydberg.
Rob Rydberg (right) formed a nice trio of Connor Bedard supporters with his sons Tyler and Robbie during the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Canucks, Saturday, November 16, 2024, in Vancouver.
Photo Benoît Rioux
In Saturday night’s loss to the Canucks, Bedard was unable to get on the scoresheet. Ilya Mikheyev scored the only goal for the Blackhawks while Elias Pettersson, Erik Brannstrom, JT Miller and Teddy Blueger, the latter two in an empty net, responded in a victory for the locals. Bedard’s tally remains at 13 points, or three goals and 10 assists, after 18 games this season.
A true supporter
Despite everything, Mr. Chapman should keep good memories of this baptism of Bedard in Vancouver, even if the evening could hardly beat the one he experienced, in Chicago, on October 21, 2023.
“For his first career match played in Chicago, I flew there and he scored a goal in the first two minutes of the match,” recalled the man, with a big smile, about of a game once played against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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