Hockey News: Connor Bedard named IIHF Male Player of the Year

Presumed No. 1 NHL draft pick Connor Bedard has been honored as the International Ice Hockey Federation’s first Male Player of the Year.

The IIHF announced Monday that Bedard has placed first in a panel of representatives from 22 countries, well ahead of Latvian goalkeeper Arturs Silovs, Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl and German defender Moritz Seider.

Bedard helped Canada win the past two junior world championships, played last summer and last winter, before turning 18. He was MVP of the most recent tournament after leading all players with 23 points in seven games.

The Chicago Blackhawks recently won the lottery for the chance to select Bedard as the first pick and are expected to do so during the draft in Nashville next week. Bedard won Canadian Hockey League awards and became the first player of the year, top prospect and leading scorer to be voted after his season with 143 points with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

Hilary Knight was named the IIHF’s first female player of the year for leading the US to gold in this year’s Women’s World Championship.