Two Blackhawks Selected For CHL All-Star Teams

After a pair of exceptional seasons in the WHL, a pair of Blackhawks have been named to CHL All-Star Teams (well, technically only one Blackhawk, but…). Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats was named to the first team and Kevin Korchinski of the Seattle Thunderbirds to the third team.

Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard’s selection to the first team should come as a surprise to no one. He had the best season of anyone in the entire CHL, and one of the best seasons of all time at 17 years old. While playing in just 57 games for the Pats, he put up an astounding 143 points, with 71 goals and 72 assists. Bedard made his team better throughout the season, but his Regina Pats fell just short of moving on to the second round, as they fell in Game 7 to the Saskatoon Blades. Bedard had an impressive 20 points in the series on 10 goals and 10 assists.

Kevin Korchinski

The other Blackhawk who received All-Star honors has yet to finish his season. Kevin Korchinski of the Seattle Thunderbirds was named to the CHL Third All-Star team. Drafted seventh overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Blackhawks, Korchinski is widely regarded as the team’s top prospect, and figures to be a huge piece of the rebuild in Chicago moving forward. The left-handed defenseman put up 73 points in just 54 games for his WHL squad. He’s proven to be one of the most valuable members of the Thunderbirds this year, as he opens up lanes for his teammates with his crafty passing, while simultaneously being more than serviceable as a blueliner.

Korchinski’s Thunderbirds play the Peterborough Petes of the OHL at 7 p.m. on June 2 in a semifinal game for the right to play Quebec Ramparts on Sunday in the Memorial Cup.

The selection of both Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski is a testament to their outstanding performances in the WHL this year, as they’ve been some of the brightest spots on their respective teams all season. Both nominations are clearly deserved, as the numbers both players put up this year are quite impressive. Their inclusion in the All-Star teams further proves the fact that the Blackhawks have one of the best prospect pools in the entire NHL. Assuming that Bedard becomes a Blackhawk later this month, the team will have two top-ten picks on their roster next season, and both will have proven success in the CHL on their resumes. Both could easily become cornerstones of Chicago’s rebuild.