Bedard was detoured by broken jaw. Kelce's on another Super Bowl run and has the world's most famous jet-setting songstress girlfriend. But the NHL wants to leverage star-power, so...
Taylor Swift has come racing back across the Pacific on a private jet to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce play in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.
The 14-time Grammy-winning pop singer landed in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon after concerts in Japan. Swift is expected to arrive in Las Vegas in time to see her four-time All-Pro tight end beau and the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers.
Then later in the week, Swift is expected jet back to Australia to continue her concert tour. Who knows, win or lose, maybe the 34-year-old Kelce will travel with her once the NFL season is over.
If not, Kelce still has an open invitation from the Blackhawks and injured rookie Connor Bedard to come to Chicago to "learn to play hockey."
Granted it would be a publicity event. And yes, the timing isn't perfect right now.
Bedard is still recovering from a broken jaw. The 18-year-old center is scheduled to see doctors again on Monday to learn how much he can progress in his recovery.
On Saturday, Bedard was still wearing a no-contact green jersey and a full polycarbonate face shield in an optional team practice at the Fifth Third Arena on Chicago's West Side. Even once cleared for contact, Bedard will still be wearing the "bubble" for awhile for protection from hits, pucks and wayward sticks.
He wouldn't be at his best for cameras and chatting it up with Kelce on the ice.
Kelce may have lost a step in his 11th NFL season and his numbers were down — although he caught all 11 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game against Baltimore. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Kelce has pushed back at any rumors of retirement from the gridiron.
But if the Chiefs all-time leader in receiving yards wants to learn how to catch a pass on the ice, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Bedard said in December he'd be flattered to provide tips. The offer stood even if Kelce kept fumbling Bedard's name on his "New Heights" podcast with brother and co-host Jason in December.
Travis Kelce called out Bedard as an NHL player he loved to watch.
"Bednard..." Kelce said with a laugh. "I don't even know how to say his last name. I just know I love watching that dude play hockey." See link: https://www.tiktok.com/@br_openice/video/7306978070420901162
Bedard quickly returned the love a few hours before the Blackhawks and Petr Mrazek blanked the Anaheim Ducks 1-0 on Dec. 7. Bedard assisted on Philipp Kurashev's goal in the win.
"I saw that" Bedard said of the podcast. "That was cool. Obviously one of the best football players in the world."
Regarding the mispronounced name?
"I think he got it right other day, somebody was saying," Bedard quipped. "It's funny how he was struggling there.
"Obviously he's a Chicago (Blackhawks) fan, so it would be pretty sweet... It would be cool and maybe try to teach him to play hockey a little bit."
Assuming Kelce, the NFL, the NHL and the Blackhawks can coordinate the logistics, it could still happen this season after Bedard resumes playing.
