Two of the top prospects in hockey are childhood best friends, but will be enemies on Tuesday night in Kelowna.

Buzz is spreading around Kelowna as Andrew Cristall and the Rockets are to host the Regina Pats and the number one prospect in hockey, Connor Bedard at Prospera Place.

The two 17-year-olds have been playing hockey either on the same team or against each other since they were five-years old, and are excited to play against each other for the first time in their WHL careers.

鈥淲e both want to get the win, we both want to out-do each other,鈥� said Cristall. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for the game tomorrow for sure.鈥�

鈥淚 think we鈥檝e known each other for over 10 years now,鈥� said Bedard. 鈥淲e鈥檙e super competitive together, whatever it is we鈥檙e doing. I mean, he doesn鈥檛 beat me much but we鈥檙e together all the time, we鈥檙e super close. It鈥檚 exciting, we鈥檒l probably have dinner or something after the game, I鈥檝e been watching what he鈥檚 been doing this year and obviously we鈥檙e super close and getting the chance to play against him and compete against him, it鈥檚 going to be a lot of fun.鈥�

The two keep in touch on a regular basis, usually texting each other after one another鈥檚 games.

Both have also taken the league by storm. Going into Tuesday night鈥檚 contest, Bedard leads the league in scoring by a country mile, and Cristall is tied for second in the category.

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In 20 games so far this season, Cristall, the Burnaby native, has 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists), and is currently on an 11-game point streak. Bedard from North Vancouver has been putting up video game numbers throughout his career, including this season. He leads the league with 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) and has at least one point in every game so far this season (24 games).

The expected first-round draft picks in the 2023 NHL Draft have high-praise for each other.

鈥淚 think his smarts, he鈥檚 got probably the best IQ I鈥檝e ever seen, always in the right spot, always making the right play,鈥� said Bedard. 鈥淗e鈥檚 having an unreal year but I鈥檓 not surprised at all.鈥�

鈥淗is shot is incredible, nothing like I鈥檝e ever seen before,鈥� said Cristall.

Because of the pandemic restrictions during last season, Bedard and the Pats haven鈥檛 been able to travel to B.C. for games. The Pats current roadtrip is Bedard鈥檚 first time playing in the WHL throughout his hometown province and he鈥檚 been the hottest ticket in every town as every game has been sold out.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building,鈥� said Bedard, who鈥檚 had his parents, and other family and friends attend the games across the province. 鈥淏eing in front of the sold out [WHL] crowds is pretty crazy.鈥�

The Pats are currently in the middle of a seven-game roadtrip that includes stops in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George.

And while Bedard is the main attraction as the number one prospect in hockey, he knows how good the players are all around the league.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of guys in this league people are coming to watch, I鈥檓 just playing and just one of the guys in the room,鈥� said Bedard.

Tuesday鈥檚 game at Prospera Place is the first sold out crowd the Rockets have had since before the pandemic as the 6,000-seat stadium plans to have around 6,300-6,400 people with standing room also at capacity. It sold out a few weeks ago, according to Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淚 think it鈥檒l be a pretty cool environment these guys haven鈥檛 seen. These games are sold out throughout British Columbia.鈥�

When asked if these players are ready to see their first sellout, he said that sold-out crowds used to be the norm and it鈥檚 the expectation that head coach Kris Mallette will have his team prepared for it.

The women鈥檚 hockey Rivalry Series game at Prospera Place two weeks ago was also sold out.

While both players are expected to be drafted early in the first round of the NHL Draft in June, both are also fans of the Vancouver Canucks after growing up in the Metro-Vancouver area. With the Canucks struggling early to start the season, they could have a chance to draft one of them.

鈥淚鈥檓 still cheering for them, just being a fan and what not,鈥� said Bedard. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 thought about the draft much so I鈥檓 just cheering for them like I always have.鈥�

Both Bedard and Cristall have a very good chance to leave their respective teams for a while in the coming weeks to have their shot to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors, which are taking place in Halifax and Moncton from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3. Bedard was on last year鈥檚 World Junior team.

Tuesday鈥檚 match up is the first and only time this season the Rockets and Pats meet. Puck drop at Prospera Place is at 7:05 p.m.

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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