Bedard fever hits Saskatoon
After weeks of anticipation, the day Saskatoon Blades fans have been waiting for finally came.
A historic hockey game in Saskatoon with a sellout crowd of 15,000 people packed into Sasktel Centre in what could be the largest crowd for a hockey game in the city’s history. The obvious draw with the Regina Pats in town is the lure of superstar Connor Bedard.
"It's just that he's so good. This is my only chance to see him live," Blades fan John Herbison said prior to the game. "Soon I'll be seeing him on TV, but it just won't be the same."
Fans loading on to shuttles for the game two hours before puck drop were certainly in the sporting mood and ready to make the afternoon as uncomfortable as possible for the Western Hockey League's latest phenom.
"Everybody's got the bug. He's filling every stadium in the league," Frank Shychoski said.
Many people at the park and ride locations across the city said they simply want a fond memory to look back on later, and have the opportunity to say they saw Connor Bedard play in Saskatoon before he went on to the pro ranks.
Father and son duo Pat and David Fodey were eager to attend their first Blades game in years. With Pat growing up in Regina as a Pats fan and raising his son in Saskatoon as a Blades fan, the pair bought their tickets over a month ago realizing what a perfect occasion it would be.
"The next time we have a chance to see Bedard, the ticket (cost) will be tenfold," David said.
For the Fodeys, the hockey experience will be more special to them than the historical aspect.
"We were joking around how a lot of people are going to film it on their phones and not really pay attention to say they were there for history's sake," David said.
Staff have been preparing for the influx of fans for days, by not only opening the doors early, but deploying extra parking staff and preparing all the extra food necessary as the Blades average attendance this year has been around 4,000 fans, meaning 11,000 more people were expected for the game.
Gary Brandt remembers going to Humboldt as a young child to see Glenn Hall play hockey before he became "Mr. Goalie." He's happy to pass on a similar lifelong memory going to Sunday's game with his son in-law and grandson.
"We can look years down the road and say 'I remember him playing in Saskatoon!'"
Krissy Essar remembers sitting with her family during the World Junior Hockey Championships over the holidays and made the decision to buy tickets nearly three months in advance.
"We just couldn't miss the opportunity," she said. "He's blowing it up. This is great for hockey and great for hockey in Canada."
With the hopes of 15,000 people creating lifelong memories in one of the most anticipated games in the Blades’ 59-year history, fans will get a chance to do it all over again on Friday when Bedard and the Pats are back at SaskTel Centre for a rematch.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6947764.1719881470!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
NEW Did WestJet cancel your flight? Here's what experts say you should do
WestJet cancelled more than 800 flights between June 27 and July 2, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Here are the kinds of compensation experts say passengers affected by the cancellations may be entitled to, and how to go about advocating for it.
NEW What a family lawyer says you should know before getting married
Barry Nussbaum, a Toronto-based family lawyer who has counselled countless couples, offers advice about the details you don't want to overlook before getting married.
Flash flooding in B.C. Interior affects at least 20 homes, emergency officials say
At least 20 homes have been affected by flash flooding in the British Columbia Interior following heavy rains that forced the overnight closure of the Trans-Canada Highway near Kamloops.
Fire at gas metering station sparks grass fire that shut Alberta highway
Yellowhead County in west-central Alberta says a fire that prompted the closure of a major highway west of Edmonton involved a gas metering station.
These ultraprocessed foods may shorten your life, study says
Eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10 per cent, according to a new, unpublished study of over 500,000 people whom researchers followed for nearly three decades.
Eddie Murphy is still stung by that David Spade joke on 'Saturday Night Live'
Eddie Murphy is reflecting on some of the “cheap shots” he feels he’s taken over the years.
If you qualify for this tax credit, you can expect a payment in your bank account this week
The next quarterly GST/HST tax credit payment is expected to go out this week, according to the Canada Revenue Agency.
Judge calls Jeffrey Epstein 'most infamous pedophile in American history' as he releases transcripts
A Florida judge released Monday afternoon the transcripts of a 2006 grand jury investigation that looked into sex trafficking and rape allegations made against the late millionaire and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump has immunity for official, not private acts
The U.S. Supreme Court found on Monday that Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can for private acts, in a landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.