Bedard-Mania Sweeping Chicago?

Blackhawks fans of all ages have vocally and visibly embraced Connor Bedard. The NHL's top draft pick of 2023 and leading rookie scorer is returning the love.

Teenage girls have long screamed at and cried over shifty moves, at least since Elvis Presley first flashed his version of a toe-drag in the 1950s.

Now Connor Bedard has joined the heartthrob club on hockey's big stage.

Bedard's overtime goal to cap a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets last week sent a sellout United Center crowd of 20,540 into a frenzy. The 18-center year-old beat Connor Hellebuyck under the glove on a just-tricky-enough shot from the slot.

It also was Bedard's first multi-goal game at home. The NHL's leading rookie scorer had driven to the net and whacked in a rebound of his own one-timer in the first period to put Chicago on the board.

So the customers had reason to go bonkers over Bedard's finish. One teenage girl, wearing a No. 19 Jonathan Toews jersey and seated near the glass, was caught in tears by the team's rightholder's TV cameras. See the video of the goal and the fan from NHL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ts3JA_1h88

Bedard said he saw the clip.

"It's pretty funny, but it's cool," Bedard said. "Obviously they're really passionate fans and the emotion and, that's pretty special to see people get so emotional and happy for us.

"Ever since I got drafted there's been so much support... Just the support we get here every night, you can't help but love that." See video

Blackhawks fans of all ages seem to have fallen for Bedard. The embrace of hockey's "next generational talent" has been quick and unconditional.  

Not just kids, but gnarly grown men with big bellies and butts are wearing $250-ish Adidas authentic Bedard No. 98 jerseys too. Just about everyone is hollering their lungs out for the 18-year-old who's charged with leading the franchise from the depths of the NHL standings.

It's all good for the NHL's highly touted top draft pick of 2023. And Bedard is living up to expectations by clicking at nearly a point-per game, with 15 goals and 17 assists entering Sunday's game at Dallas.

"Yeah, I mean, you hear them all," Bedard said in an in-arena P.A. interview after being named the first star in the win over the Jets. "Every night they come to support us and it feels like home now, So I'm super grateful to be here and to be a Blackhawk."  https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1740434919015543245?s=20

Bedard's family had flow in from North Vancouver, British Columbia to join him for Christmas in Chicago. They also were on hand for his first NHL goal, in Boston on Oct. 11, and his first score at the United Center on Oct. 21 versus Vegas. See video.

Blackhawks fans have known how to get loud for a long time. They've roared for their team — when their team has given them something to roar about — since the days Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull in the old Chicago Stadium.

It's been quieter at the United Center in recent years as the Blackhawks slipped from Stanley Cup prominence to the bottom of the NHL. Only the San Jose Sharks had fewer points than Chicago's 24 heading into Sunday.

But in three straight home sellouts during the holidays, the fans raised their voices again.

A 3-2 win over Colorado on Dec. 19 got the customers into the spirit. A 5-2 loss to Montréal — the Canadiens finished with five unanswered goals — toned them down.

Then Bedard's performance in the rollicking 2-1 win over Winnipeg on Dec. 27 had them screaming... and some shrieking. The pitch was a little higher than in the past as a wave of younger fans celebrated Bedard's game-winner. Watch and listen here from the tweet: https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1740236995136536657?s=20

The Blackhawks have been actively marketing to families with kids and younger customers to build a new generation of fans. You can hear them.

"It's a special city to be playing sports," Bedard said. "The fans are unreal. I can't imagine a better place to be playing." See video.

And just why do teenage girls scream at and cry over performers? Traditionally, tears have flowed over boy bands. See this article for some possible reasons. https://www.vox.com/2016/1/28/10815492/teenage-girls-screaming

At least plexiglass has replaced cyclone fence above the boards around rinks.