Why did Connor Bedard carry a poker chip with him at the NHL Draft?
As Connor Bedard made the media rounds inside Bridgestone Arena after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, the 17-year-old center was proudly showing off a poker chip he had tucked away in his front pocket.
On that chip was a picture of his late grandfather, Garth, who passed away in April 2021 following an automobile crash just three weeks after Bedard’s debut in the Western Hockey League as a 15-year-old.
“It’s obviously tough for me and my family not having him here,” Bedard said during the Sportsnet broadcast. “We loved to play cards and stuff and I’ve got him on here. Just (a way to) have him with me on this day and I’m sure he’s watching.”
Garth was one of Bedard’s biggest supporters. The two grew close after spending much of their free time on fishing and skiing adventures together.
Bedard, who was the first WHL player ever granted “exceptional status,” scored two goals in front of his grandfather in his WHL debut—a 6-3 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders. It was the last of his games that Garth attended.
Three days after his grandfather’s death, Bedard scored both goals in a 2-1 Regina Pats overtime win over Brandon Wheat Kings. He was named the First Star of the Game and honored Garth after scoring the OT winner.
“He's definitely someone I play for now,” Bedard told NHL.com in March. “During the Canadian (national) anthem before each game, he's someone I'm thinking about. Hopefully, he's still watching. ... He loved to watch hockey. I hope I'm making him proud."
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