Fantilli, Bedard in tight race for 2023 first overall pick, was Fantilli slighted by Team Canada?

For the past two years, it has been a foregone conclusion WHL Regina Pats’ phenom Connor Bedard will go first in the 2023 NHL Draft. There’s no question the 5’9” forward has skill to spare, causing one observer to say he is “ten times better than (Sidney) Crosby at the same age.”

But Adam Fantilli of the USHL Chicago Steel is turning it into a race.

So far this season, Fantilli has outscored Bedard in what is traditionally a lower scoring league, posted a better plus-minus, and has shown more aptitude for the physical play. And at 6’2”, 190 lbs., he provides a far more intimidating presence than the much smaller Bedard.

While Regina sits ninth in their conference with a 11-15-0-0 record, which would put them on the outside looking in come playoff time, Fantilli’s Steel sit atop the USHL overall standings with a dominating 17-4-4-0 record.

It’s unfortunate we won’t get a look at the two head-to-head in this year’s World Juniors, as Canada has chosen to invite Bedard but not Fantilli (who hails from Ontario) to the selection camp, but the story of the 2023 World Juniors in Novosibirsk and Omsk, Russia, will almost certainly be these two dynamic players on the same team. 

Is Fantilli’s omission a slight against him or the USHL? Well, that’s up for debate. The facts are this - the USHL has had more draft picks than any of the three CHL (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) leagues the past two years, the USHL tends to be lower scoring, and Fantilli has better numbers.

Regardless, Fantilli will keep racking up the points for the Steel, whether or not he is noticed by Hockey Canada. In fact, it’s hard to remember a USHL player lacing up for Team Canada while playing in the USHL, so it’s not a surprise that he is not invited  

The question is, if Canada fails to win gold playing on home ice for the second consecutive season - with USA knocking off the hosts last year and expected to ice perhaps even a stronger squad this year - will there be any questioning in the Canadian media if Fantilli would have been the difference? Or does the Toronto-based hockey media even know he, or the USHL, exist?