Andrew Cristall and Connor Bedard were in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Friday night to watch the Everett Silvertips and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens battle it out in the Memorial Cup semifinals. The tournament is being hosted by the Kelowna Rockets this year, the team with which Cristall spent the majority of his five-year WHL career. The matchup was the first game that Cristall, who is the Rockets’ all-time points leader (340), attended at Prospera Place since he concluded his junior career.
The former WHL stars and childhood friends joined TSN during the first intermission of Everett’s eventual 6-1 victory to talk about their relationship and their transitions to pro hockey.
“It’s pretty special being back here,” Cristall shared during the interview. “Just so many memories, and a lot of good times, and friendships made. So it’s great to be back.”
When asked about his first professional season in the Washington Capitals organization, Cristall expressed gratitude for the club that drafted him in 2023. “It was awesome. I mean, I couldn’t thank Hershey and Washington enough, you know, how they treated me and how they treated our team,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s a big jump from the Western League, but I thought as this season went on, I started to feel really good, really confident and able to have my game translate.”
Bedard discussed his similar transition, explaining that “what you can do in junior, you sometimes can’t do at the pro level,” noting it as one of the biggest adjustments he’s had to make, but appreciating the challenge. Cristall agreed, sharing his own experience during his rookie AHL year.
“I think for me jumping in this year, definitely some frustrations at the start when things don’t go your way, but at the end of the day, I think that stuff makes you better,” Cristall said. “We’re pretty competitive guys, and if something doesn’t work out our way, we’re probably gonna bounce back and find a way to get it done.”
The two highly touted youngsters were among the most productive WHL forwards in recent history, racking up awards and accolades throughout their junior careers.
Bedard, who spent 3 seasons with the Regina Pats (captaining the team in 2022-23), was a two-time WHL (East) First All-Star Team member, the 2020-21 WHL Rookie of the Year (leading rookies in points, goals and assists), and the 2022-23 WHL Player of the Year (leading the league in points, goals and assists as well). He was also the first player since Connor McDavid to receive three CHL awards in one year, being named the CHL Player of the Year, Top Draft Prospect, and Top Scorer.
Cristall played for the Rockets for five seasons, joining the squad in 2020-21 and serving as an alternate captain his final three years. He joined the Spokane Chiefs for the second half of his final WHL season, when he was named to the CHL First All-Star Team and received awards for tallying the most regular-season points and most playoff goals.
The two natives of British Columbia grew up competing against and alongside each other. The pair met when they were five, as spring teammates on the Vancouver Vipers, and Cristall expressed his gratitude for their time together on the ice. “A lot of free apples, I’d say,” Cristall joked of his experience playing with Bedard. “It was fun playing with him for so long and growing up. Lucky to be on his line for those spring hockey tournaments.”
“Being able to train with him and then play with him all these years definitely made me a better player.”
Although they ended up as opponents in the WHL and now the pro ranks, Cristall and Bedard reunite during the offseason to become teammates once again — on their roller hockey team, the Great Guys. Outside of those roller hockey games, they also maintain a close friendship and spend parts of their summers together, often training in the same group.
And it’s not just Cristall who benefits from that relationship. Bedard had high praise for his training partner on Friday, and has throughout his career. “He’s one of the best players I’ve got to play with, and I just can’t wait to watch him keep growing into the NHL and get his look. I mean, he’s dominated at every level he’s been in,” Bedard said.
“It’s just fun when you can kind of feed off each other and compete with each other.”
