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.

91裸聊视频淲e both want to get the win, we both want to out-do each other,91裸聊视频� said Cristall. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e excited for the game tomorrow for sure.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檝e known each other for over 10 years now,91裸聊视频� said Bedard. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e super competitive together, whatever it is we91裸聊视频檙e doing. I mean, he doesn91裸聊视频檛 beat me much but we91裸聊视频檙e together all the time, we91裸聊视频檙e super close. It91裸聊视频檚 exciting, we91裸聊视频檒l probably have dinner or something after the game, I91裸聊视频檝e been watching what he91裸聊视频檚 been doing this year and obviously we91裸聊视频檙e super close and getting the chance to play against him and compete against him, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a lot of fun.91裸聊视频�

The two keep in touch on a regular basis, usually texting each other after one another91裸聊视频檚 games.

Both have also taken the league by storm. Going into Tuesday night91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 think his smarts, he91裸聊视频檚 got probably the best IQ I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen, always in the right spot, always making the right play,91裸聊视频� said Bedard. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 having an unreal year but I91裸聊视频檓 not surprised at all.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淗is shot is incredible, nothing like I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen before,91裸聊视频� said Cristall.

Because of the pandemic restrictions during last season, Bedard and the Pats haven91裸聊视频檛 been able to travel to B.C. for games. The Pats current roadtrip is Bedard91裸聊视频檚 first time playing in the WHL throughout his hometown province and he91裸聊视频檚 been the hottest ticket in every town as every game has been sold out.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a lot of fun, you can feel the energy in the building,91裸聊视频� said Bedard, who91裸聊视频檚 had his parents, and other family and friends attend the games across the province. 91裸聊视频淏eing in front of the sold out [WHL] crowds is pretty crazy.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of guys in this league people are coming to watch, I91裸聊视频檓 just playing and just one of the guys in the room,91裸聊视频� said Bedard.

Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 exciting,91裸聊视频� said Hamilton. 91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檒l be a pretty cool environment these guys haven91裸聊视频檛 seen. These games are sold out throughout British Columbia.91裸聊视频�

When asked if these players are ready to see their first sellout, he said that sold-out crowds used to be the norm and it91裸聊视频檚 the expectation that head coach Kris Mallette will have his team prepared for it.

The women91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 still cheering for them, just being a fan and what not,91裸聊视频� said Bedard. 91裸聊视频淚 haven91裸聊视频檛 thought about the draft much so I91裸聊视频檓 just cheering for them like I always have.91裸聊视频�

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 year91裸聊视频檚 World Junior team.

Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 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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