Pats Announce 2022-23 Award Winners
Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats Hockey Club is pleased to announce the 2022-23 team award winners, which were presented prior to the team’s regular season finale on March 25. Each year, 10 awards are handed out, recognizing the individual accomplishments of members of the team.
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Player of the Year – Connor Bedard
It was a magical regular season for Bedard, who led the WHL in goals (71) and points (143), and was tied for the lead in assists (72). He also led the way in shots on goal (360), points per-game (2.51), goals per-game (1.24), and finished tied for first in game-winning-goals with 11. All this while playing in just 57 games.
Bedard led the Pats in plus/minus (+39), face-off win percentage (53.6) and power play points (45). The North Vancouver, B.C. product also tied for the longest point-streak in the WHL this season, going 35 straight contests with at least a point, surpassing his previous high of 21 set last season. During the 35-game streak he scored 44 goals and 46 assists for 90 points. The 5-foot-10, 185 lb. forward tied Rob Brown (1985-86) for the highest points per-game by a 17-year-old in WHL history, and also had the third-most goals and points by any U18 player in league history.
Charles Johnston Memorial Top Defenceman – Stanislav Svozil
Svozil finished the season top-3 in the WHL amongst defencemen in numerous categories. He ranked first in power play assists (36), second in assists (67), second in points per-game (1.39), and third in points (78), all while playing in just 56 games. The Prerov, Czechia product finished the year with 24 multi-point games, including four four-point efforts. Svozil’s 78 points were the 10th-highest single season point total by a Pats defenceman in franchise history. His 67 assists are tied for the fifth-highest all-time and his 1.39 points-per-game rank 4th all-time in Pats history. Svozil joins Connor Hobbs (2016-17) as the only two Pats defencemen in the last 25 years to reach 70+ points.
Rick Rypien Memorial Award (Unsung Hero) – Parker Berge
It was another strong defensive season for Parker Berge, who provided solid minutes on the back end for the Pats this season, while also being a key penalty killer. The Edmonton, AB product ended the season with a career high 22 points (3G-19A) and was just one of two players to play in all 68 games, along with Layton Feist. The 6-foot, 181 lb. defenceman earns his second career Pats team award, as he was named 2020-21 Academic Player of the Year.
Nick Pappas Rookie of the Year – Alexander Suzdalev
Suzdalev led all WHL rookies in goals (38), assists (48), points (86), power play goals (17), and power play assists (19), and tied for first in points per-game (1.30). The Khabarovsk, RUS product recorded 29 multi-point efforts and seven multi-goal games this season. The 6-foot-3, 171 lb. winger was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third-round of the 2021 NHL Draft before joining Regina.
Hub Bishop Most Sportsmanlike – Tye Spencer
Spencer totaled just 10 penalty minutes in 39 games this season and was a leader on and off the ice for the Pats. The Saskatoon, Sask. product scored 18 points (11G-7A) in 39 games this season and was a key part of the teams special teams, playing on the power play and on the penalty kill.
Mike Kartusch Community Service Award – Connor Bedard
Bedard followed in the footsteps of former Pats captain Logan Nijhoff who was a two-time winner of this award. Bedard took part in many team and personal community events this year, hosting his own private blood drive in the fall, as well as team events like the Outdoor Hockey League surprise on Wascana Lake and multiple team-signing events at the Brandt Centre. Bedard was very kind and generous with his time throughout the season, going out of his way to meet and greet many fans in the community while offering words of wisdom to young kids across the city.
Bill Hicke Most Popular Player – Connor Bedard
Bedard won the Most Popular Player online vote this season, collecting 24 per cent of the vote.
Scholastic Player of the Year – Matteo Michels
Michels successfully completed six online Gr.12 courses in Semester 1 and is currently completing six more courses in Semester 2, maintaining a very impressive Grade Point Average of 95.8%.
Torchey Schell Top Scorer Award – Connor Bedard
Bedard’s 143 points were 57 more than any other Pats player. He led the team in goals (71), assists (72) and points (143). The third-year forward registered nine hat-tricks during the 2022-23 season, two of which were four-goal performances. Beyond that, the Pats pivot secured 38 multi point outings – meaning 66.7 per cent of his appearances came with a multipoint effort. Additionally, he had 14 multi-goal games. On 10 occasions, Bedard recorded five or more points in a game, two of which were six-point performances – January 8 vs. Calgary (4G-2A) and March 18 at Moose Jaw (3G-3A). He claimed the Bob Clarke Trophy as the Regina Pats captain has finished atop the WHL scoring charts for the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season.
Three Star Award – Connor Bedard
Bedard won the Pats three star award for the third straight year.
This year it was really no contest, with him being named first start 11 times, second star 15 times and third star two times. Alexander Suzdalev won second star, with Drew Sim just behind, taking home third star.
Pats 2021-22 three star standings
Name / First stars / Second stars / Third stars / Total pts.
- Connor Bedard / 11 / 15 / 2 – 65 pts.
2. Alexander Suzdalev / 7 / 2 / 6 – 31 pts.
3. Drew Sim / 4 / 4 / 3 – 23 pts.
3 points for first star, 2 points for second star, 1 point for third star.
