Ice hockey fans will be treated to the first meeting between two of the best freshmen players in the National Hockey League (NHL) on Wednesday evening.
Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome Connor Bedard and his teammates from the Chicago Blackhawks. This is the first time the two young men have met, having been teammates in the past. Fantilli and Bedard represented Canada together at the 2022 U18 Championships and the 2023 World Junior Championships.
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“It’ll be fun,” said Fantilli, whose comments were reported by the NHL website.
However, the Blue Jackets player knows what to expect when he finds himself on the ice at the same time as the first player selected in the last draft.
“Like all good players, you have to make sure you are in the right places. His shot is so dangerous. You have to be aware of this. To be completely honest, I’m focused on my game and what I have to do during a game.
Not the same production
Since the start of the season, Bedard has worked his way into first place in the rookie points standings. In 16 games he scored nine goals and six assists for 15 points.
Fantilli had a less than spectacular start to his career with four goals and five assists for nine points in 19 games.
However, the third pick overall in the 2023 amateur auction seems to be getting better with each game.
“The more experience you have in this league, the better you play. You know what to do differently when you know what to expect. I’m getting to a point where I feel more comfortable and can have confidence in my game.
“I hope it continues to grow this way,” Fantilli added.