Rinkside reporter reveals what Easton Cowan said to anger Connor Bedard.

The National Hockey League produces countless memorable moments for hockey fans each and every season and today I've got a special one for you courtesy of a very attentive rinkside reporter.

Over the weekend the Toronto Maple Leafs clashed with the Chicago Blackhawks, and many oberserves were quick to notice during the game that both Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan and Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard seemed to have it out for one another. In fact it would have been hard not to notice if you were watching the game attentively, with Cowan and Bedard going at one another several times even before the first period had come to a close.

That of course raised the question of why? Neither Cowan nor Bedard are known for being physically imposing players on the ice which left many wondering what made this interaction so unique? Well as it turns out the driving force behind the animosity we saw on the ice may have been Easton Cowan's mouth.

It has now been revealed that a particular chirp from Cowan may have gotten under Bedard's skin, with a rinkside reporter leaking details of what exactly what was said between the two young men to create such an adversarial relationship on the ice.

"There was typical back chirping, nothing out of the ordinary, and then at one point Cowan said something along the lines of questioning Bedard's chances of making team Canada for the Olympics," revealed rinkside reporter Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Bedard is of course making serious waves when it comes to the Canadian Olympic roster with his play this season, so much so that Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has already suggested that he is "earning his way" onto the Team Canada Olympic roster.

Bedard is certainly playing like a young man that is desperate for the chance to represent his country at the Olympics, with an incredible 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in only 18 games played this season. If Bedard is indeed putting his heart and soul into making what is inarguably the most challenging Olympic roster to crack, you can see why the comment would set him off.

I can only hope that this means we will be seeing more of the rivalry between these two very young and very talented NHL players.