Admiral, Saskatchewan's James Bedard was born on November 19th, 1927. He spent four seasons patrolling the blueline for the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before he turned pro with a jump to Kansas City of the United States Hockey League in 1948-49. The following season, he took another step, making his NHL debut with the Chicago Black Hawks, appearing in five games without registering a point.
The next year, Bedard played 17 more games with Chicago, scoring a goal and adding an assist. It would prove to be his final season in the National Hockey League, though his career would continue for seven more campaigns, the best of which would be spent with the New Westminster Royals.
Bedard played four years with the Royals, adding toughness and consistency to their defence between 1951 and 1955. In 1956, Bedard left the Royals and spent the next two years with four different clubs before returning to New Westminster for his final season in '57-'58.