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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Woodroof

A ref welcoming Connor Bedard to the NHL before his first face-off with Sidney Crosby gave fans goosebumps

Connor Bedard NHL Sidney Crosby Marvin Harrison Jr

It really was Connor Bedard Night around the NHL as the Chicago Blackhawks rookie got his first game action at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While Bedard showed some pregame jitters by hilariously forgetting his hockey stick as he left the locker room, his first face-off at the game’s puck drop felt like something out of a movie.

There he was in front of the home crowd, lined up against Penguins legend Sidney Crosby as NHL referee Kelly Sutherland shared a brief-yet-perfect greeting to Bedard as he lined up across from Crosby to start the game.

“Connor. Welcome to the NHL, man,” Sutherland told Bedard in what will be a historic moment for the sport.

Goosebumps!

Like, seriously, that’s just out of this world. It’s the passing of the torch from one NHL generation to the next.

Sutherland nailed the moment as Bedard and Crosby squared off with each other in what will be one of the coolest puck drops we’ll see this season.

If you’re Bedard, how could you forget this moment? It’s the perfect way to kick off your career to the NHL, and fans absolutely loved seeing this unfold.

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NHL fans loved this moment.

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