Shooting Competition With Connor Bedard At NHL All-Star Weekend Strikes Fear Into "Minnesota Hockey Girl"

No, this isn't completely satirical. A "shooting demonstration and competition" on Saturday near Scotiabank Arena in Toronto has Crystal Sorem, a fellow Sherwood Hockey partner, in a tizzy... at least on TikTok.

NHL leading rookie scorer Connor Bedard is still recovering from a broken jaw, but is in Toronto for the NHL All-Star weekend. 

The 18-year-old Chicago Blackhawks center was named the youngest All-Star in league history on Jan. 4, one day before being injured. Although Bedard wasn't cleared to play in the game or skills competitions, he joined other players on the ice at the Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.

Earlier, Bedard accepted a trophy from the International Ice Hockey Federation as its male athlete of the year in 2023, posing for photos with his female counterpart, former U.S. Olympian and current PWHL forward Hilary Knight. Bedard won the honor for his record-setting scoring exploits at the 2023 World Junior Championship and leading Canada to a gold medal.  https://x.com/IIHFHockey/status/1753453355496554775?s=20

But apparently Bedard and his skills have struck fear into another female hockey player, 25-year-old Crystal Sorem from the Twin Cities suburb of Edina, Minnesota. Sorem played high school hockey for Benilde-St. Margaret's in nearby St. Louis Park, then 12 games with Ohio State University in 2016-17 according to hockey databases. 

Both Bedard and Sorem partner with Sherwood Hockey. Both use the iconic brand's high-end composite Rekker Legend Pro sticks. Bedard also wears Rekker Legend Pro gloves as part of his agreement with Sherwood, which was founded in 1949 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, then was purchased by Canadian Tire Corp. in 2018.

A few days ago, Sherwood posted on Instagram that Bedard and Sorem would take part in a "shooting demonstration and competition" at a Sport Chek store at Toronto's Maple Leaf Square on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. Sport Chek also is owned by Canadian Tire and this store is located at 15 York St. near the Scotiabank Arena, site of the NHL All-Star Game and competitions.

Based on her posted videos, Sorem's a pretty good skater, puckhandler and shooter. But the matchup with Bedard apparently caught her by surprise. 

She thought she was going to Toronto to meet Bedard and make a few fun video clips, she said in a theatrical post on TikTok. Take a look at https://www.tiktok.com/@henricksorem/video/7330376372751240490

"I do not remember saying that I would be willing to be publicly embarrassed by Connor Bedard," Sorem said in the video. "The No, 1 draft pick versus me, a girl who plays pond hockey with old, retired men."

Then Sorem pauses.

"No I'm gonna' win. No like I got it. I'm gonna' wipe the floor. I'm gonna' win. He's got a broken jaw.

"I don't. I'm one up on him."

Bedard's jaw was surgically repaired and banded shut a few days after it was broken by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith's open ice hit on Jan. 5 in New Jersey. On Friday, however, videos showed Bedard moving his mouth and talking with other NHL All-Stars at events. See him with Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner here: https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1753506746327277677?s=20

According to Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson, Bedard's original six-to-eight week recovery timeline hasn't changed. The 18-year-old is not supposed clench his jaw hard, as he might taking a hard shot or training at full steam.

See what happens on Saturday...