Sponsor Sherwood Hockey says in post the NHL's leading rookie scorer will make appearance at downtown Sport Chek store on Feb. 3.
Connor Bedard will be coming to Toronto during the NHL's All-Star weekend after all, according to a social media post by one of his corporate partners.
Connor Bedard talks to media earlier this season.Per Sherwood Hockey's Instagram account, the NHL's injured rookie leading scorer will be part of a shooting demonstration and competition on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Maple Leaf Square Sport Chek Store at 15 York Street. Bedard, who's out with a fractured jaw, will be joined by former NCAA women's player Crystal Sorem at the event, at 11 a.m. ET.
Bedard, who leads NHL rookies and the Chicago Blackhawks with 33 points in 39 games, sustained his broken jaw on an open ice hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith on Jan. 5 in a the first period of a 4-2 loss at New Jersey. One day earlier, the 18-year-old Bedard had been named as the Blackhawks lone representative to the All-Star game and the youngest ever All-Star in league history.
Bedard closes in on Edmonton's Stuart Skinner in December.The NHL's top 2023 draft pick underwent surgery on Jan. 8 in Chicago. He is still not projected to return to action for six to eight weeks after that.
Bedard, however, resumed skating on his own only about a week after the procedure. He's been ramping up his ice time at the Blackhawks practice facility, but isn't supposed to absorb contact or clench his jaw while it heals. That means Bedard isn't support to exert himself at NHL levels or even take a full hard slap shot, coach Luke Richardson said.
Bedard signed a partnership deal with Sherwood in August 2023. He uses Sherwood's high-end Rekker composite sticks and gloves.
Crystal Sorem "fears being "publicly embarrassed by Connor Bedard."Sherwood doesn't make all categories of hockey equipment, Bedard wears Bauer skates, and a CCM helmet and pants.
Sorem is Minnesota native who played for Ohio State and also has an agreement with Sherwood.
In a TikTok post, she said she was surprised by news of the "competition" with Bedard and joked, "I do not remember saying that I would be willing to be publicly embarrassed by Connor Bedard. The No, 1 draft pick versus me, a girl who plays pond hockey with old retired men."
But based on her posted videos, Sorem has pretty good stickhandling moves.https://www.tiktok.com/@henricksorem/video/7330376372751240490