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.

害羞草研究所淲e both want to get the win, we both want to out-do each other,害羞草研究所� said Cristall. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e excited for the game tomorrow for sure.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檝e known each other for over 10 years now,害羞草研究所� said Bedard. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e super competitive together, whatever it is we害羞草研究所檙e doing. I mean, he doesn害羞草研究所檛 beat me much but we害羞草研究所檙e together all the time, we害羞草研究所檙e super close. It害羞草研究所檚 exciting, we害羞草研究所檒l probably have dinner or something after the game, I害羞草研究所檝e been watching what he害羞草研究所檚 been doing this year and obviously we害羞草研究所檙e super close and getting the chance to play against him and compete against him, it害羞草研究所檚 going to be a lot of fun.害羞草研究所�

The two keep in touch on a regular basis, usually texting each other after one another害羞草研究所檚 games.

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

READ MORE: Get creative for Kelowna Rockets game to win Vancouver Canucks tickets

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.

害羞草研究所淚 think his smarts, he害羞草研究所檚 got probably the best IQ I害羞草研究所檝e ever seen, always in the right spot, always making the right play,害羞草研究所� said Bedard. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 having an unreal year but I害羞草研究所檓 not surprised at all.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗is shot is incredible, nothing like I害羞草研究所檝e ever seen before,害羞草研究所� said Cristall.

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building,害羞草研究所� said Bedard, who害羞草研究所檚 had his parents, and other family and friends attend the games across the province. 害羞草研究所淏eing in front of the sold out [WHL] crowds is pretty crazy.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of guys in this league people are coming to watch, I害羞草研究所檓 just playing and just one of the guys in the room,害羞草研究所� said Bedard.

Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 exciting,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檒l be a pretty cool environment these guys haven害羞草研究所檛 seen. These games are sold out throughout British Columbia.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 the expectation that head coach Kris Mallette will have his team prepared for it.

The women害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 still cheering for them, just being a fan and what not,害羞草研究所� said Bedard. 害羞草研究所淚 haven害羞草研究所檛 thought about the draft much so I害羞草研究所檓 just cheering for them like I always have.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 World Junior team.

Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 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.

READ MORE: Kelowna Rockets forward Cristall now projected as first round NHL pick

READ MORE: The Cristall brothers: Taking Kelowna hockey by storm

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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