Paul Bissonnette and Connor Bedard hiked the Grouse Grind in Vancouver early on a Sunday morning. Bissonnette shared a photo on X, showing them at the top of the trail. Bedard surprised Bissonnette by finishing the difficult hike in just 37 minutes.
The Grouse Grind is a 2.5-kilometre (1.2-mile) steep climb trail up Grouse Mountain. It's known for being steep and challenging. According to AllTrails.com, the average time to finish the hike is an hour and 42 minutes. Bedard did it in nearly one-third of that time, showing his high level of fitness.
Bissonnette posted on Instagram story:
"6am Grouse Grind with the future. Kid did it in 37 minutes, what a f**king mutant"
Bissonnette, who completed the trail in 52 minutes and 45 seconds, was impressed. He also tweeted:
"6am Sunday morning Grouse Grind with the NHL’s reigning Calder winner. Bedard is a machine. 37 minute grind time. Now he’s going to skate. The @nhl is in good hands folks."
In another tweet, Bissonnette shared his own experience.
"I finished with a summer personal best of 52:45. Felt like shit though, I tried to keep pace with the mutant early. Rookie mistake by me."
Connor Bedard's strong performance on the hike reflects his outstanding physical fitness.
During the 2023 NHL Scouting Combine, he impressed by doing 14 pull-ups. Despite his muscular build, Bedard has a great balance of strength and agility.
Artyom Levshunov is excited to play alongside Connor Bedard
Artyom Levshunov, the Chicago Blackhawks' No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is focused on playing hockey without feeling pressure. He will play alongside Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, this season. Bedard had a strong first season, leading NHL rookies with 61 points and winning the Calder Trophy.
Levshunov spent the offseason training in North America and signed a three-year entry-level contract. He has built a relationship with Bedard through text messages and looks forward to playing with him.
Levshunov hopes to help Bedard score more goals while improving his own game.
"I think he's such a good player," Levshunov said per NHL.com "He's such a good player on the ice, and such a good guy. Looking forward, yeah, I can't wait to play with him.
"I just would look to help him on the ice to score more goals. And he could help me too."
Levshunov may not have the same impact as Connor Bedard right away, but the Blackhawks hope he will be a key player.
At Michigan State, he had 35 points in 38 games and was named the Big Ten Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year. As Levshunov starts his pro career, he's focused on getting better in every area.