Ref Helps Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard Avoid Embarrassing Rookie Mistake After Penalty

Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard has lived up to the hype thus far—but he’s still liable to make a few rookie mistakes. 

Bedard, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft who’s been hailed as hockey next big thing, has been on a tear lately. He had four points (two goals and two assists) in Thursday’s game against the Lightning and followed it up with two more goals on Sunday against the Panthers. 

He did have one embarrassing moment against Florida, though. In the first period, he was whistled for a penalty, and as he skated toward the box, referee Jean Hebert had to remind him where to go. 

Well, that’s embarrassing. To be fair, it’s an easy mistake to make and a pretty minor one. But to have the ref yelling at you in front of everybody like that is a tough look. 

Bedard made up for his little whoopsie later in the period, though, when he scored the most impressive goal of his young career, stealing the puck from a Panthers defender and burying it in the top of the net from a tough angle. That’s the play everyone will remember from Sunday—not his confusion with the penalty box.