Connor Bedard arrived in Edmonton amid much hoopla for being only the 8th Canadian to play at the World Junior Championship at age 16. During the World Juniors, he blew the roof off the record books by scoring four goals on 12 shots in less than 15 minutes of ice time.

Here is a game-by-game analysis of every 16-year-old Canadian to earn at least one point in a U20 game. Bedard already has as many total points in two games as Sidney Crosby had in six in 2004, and he did so as the third youngest Canadian ever. His four goals is, of course, a record, as even Gretzky could manage “only” a hat trick, which he did twice. 

Gretzky earned points in five of his six games while Crosby had points in four. So far, Bedard is two for two, and he’ll try again tonight against Germany.

So as we look at the numbers below, we also have to wonder about the coming week. Just exactly what more can Bedard do? No one knows the answer, but it will be fun to watch as he gains confidence, earns more ice time, and looks to fill the net.

U20 tournament stats at 16 (ordered by points):
                                      GP   G   A    P    Pim    Finish
Wayne Gretzky (1978)    6    8    9    17    2      B
Connor Bedard (2022)    2    4    1    5    0        -
Sidney Crosby (2004)     6    2    3    5    4        S
Eric Lindros (1990)          7    4    0    4    14     G
Connor McDavid (2014)  7    1    3    4    4       4th
Jason Spezza (2000)      7    0    2    2    2       B
Bill Campbell (1981)        5    0    1    1    2      5th
Jay Bouwmeester (2000) 7    0    0    0    2      B

Age at first U20 game (ordered youngest to oldest):
Bouwmeester—16 years, 89 days
Crosby—16 years, 141 days
Bedard—16 years, 162 days
Spezza—16 years, 195 days
Campbell—16 years, 268 days
Lindros—16 years, 301 days
Gretzky—16 years, 335 days
McDavid—16 years, 347 days

Points by game (ordered by date)

Gretzky    
22 December 1977 vs. USA/1+1=2
23 December 1977 vs. FRG/3+2=5
25 December 1977 vs. TCH/3+3=6
31 December 1977 vs. TCH/1=0=1
1 January 1978 vs. SWE/0+3=3

Campbell    
27 December 1980 vs. TCH/0+1=1

Lindros        
28 December 1989 vs. POL/1+0=1
29 December 1989 vs. NOR/1+0=1
3 January 1990 vs. SWE/2+0-2

Spezza        
1 January 2000 vs. SUI/0+2=2
        
Crosby        
28 December 2003 vs. SUI/1+0=1
29 December 2003 vs. UKR/1+0=1
31 December 2003 vs. CZE/0+1=1
3 January 2004 vs. CZE/0+2=2

McDavid    
26 December 2013 vs. GER/0+2=2
28 December 2013 vs. CZE/0+1=1
31 December 2013 vs. USA/1+0=1

Bedard        
26 December 2021 vs. CZE/0+1=1
28 December 2021 vs. AUT/4+0=4