Connor McDavid offers world junior support (and a warning) to phenom du jour Connor Bedard

EDMONTON Connor McDavid knows all too well what lies ahead for Connor Bedard.

While there are eight years between them, Bedard is following the path McDavid laid out.

Both were granted exceptional status by their leagues to play major junior hockey at age 15, and both were pegged at a young age to be the first overall pick in their NHL draft year.

The Regina Pats centre is the first 16-year-old to make Canada’s world junior entry since McDavid in 2014. And that’s not an easy task, given the tournament is meant for 19-year-olds and Canada has plenty of hockey talent to choose from.

“It’s an amazing thing that he’s done, to make that team at such a young age,” said McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers star who had a training session with Bedard over the summer. “I was obviously very impressed with his skill level in relation to the puck. It was eye-popping.”

That year when McDavid was the youngest player on Canada’s team, things didn’t go well. They finished fourth, and McDavid was hardly used by coach Brent Sutter. When he was called upon for a shootout — after sitting all game — he failed to score.

Social media took Canada’s disappointment out on McDavid.

“It can be a little bit overwhelming at that age,” said McDavid. “You’re so young and you’re stepping into your first games on the big stage. With that comes the social media and lots of attention. For me and our team that year, things didn’t go all that well. So there was lots of negativity around that, and I remember it being difficult.

“So, I would say for him just to keep an even keel, and maybe stay off social media for a little bit through that time, because it can be a little bit negative.”

Bedard said he appreciated the advice and enjoyed the time he had with McDavid.

“It was definitely pretty cool to get on the ice with him,” said Bedard. “It was just one skate. We did three-on-three and it was ridiculous. I mean, he just did whatever he wanted. How quick he is and how smart he is, it’s pretty crazy.”

Bedard was no lock to make the cut for the world juniors — starting Boxing Day in Alberta — despite his skills. Hockey Canada often defers to older, more experienced players. But Bedard went into the selection camp in Calgary and emerged as the best player over two games against a team of U Sports all-stars.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it or not,” he said. “I knew it was going to be tough, but I just wanted to show them what kind of player I was and give it my all, and I’m happy I made it.”

Allan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, said Bedard’s play left them no choice: He scored, he set up others, he backchecked and he was fast.

“He’s a special young player that can change the game with one play, and he rises to the occasion,” said Millar. “He’s one of those elite players that the higher the level, the better the players, the better he is. And that’s really reflective of his high hockey IQ. He just came into this camp and said, ‘You’ve got to put me on the team. I’m going to play this well.’ We had no option to put him on our team.”

Bedard joins an impressive list of players who cracked the Canadian lineup at 16, joining Wayne Gretzky (1978), Eric Lindros (1990), Jason Spezza and Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Sidney Crosby (2004) and McDavid.

“I’m young and McDavid is putting up two points a game in the Show, so that’s definitely high expectations,” said Bedard. “It’s definitely pretty humbling to hear my name in the same sentence as those guys.”

Others have done it at 16 for other countries, including American Auston Matthews in 2015.

“I was a little bit nervous because there’s a lot of names, a lot of high draft picks and whatnot,” said the Maple Leafs star. “But at that point, we’re already playing junior, already playing against the older guys.

“It was fun. It’s a great experience. You’re playing all these different countries. It’s the first big world stage you’re playing on.”

Bedard doesn’t sound nervous, despite the expectations of a hockey-mad country that expects gold.

“Obviously it’s going to be a high-level skill event,” said Bedard. “You’re playing with and against the best 19-year-olds in the world. So I’m hoping I can contribute and, you know, be a difference maker.”