Ryker Evans

Ryker Evans
Evans with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2023
Born (2001-12-13) December 13, 2001 (age 22)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team Seattle Kraken
NHL draft 35th overall, 2021
Seattle Kraken
Playing career 2022–present

Ryker Garth Evans[1] (born on December 13, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected with the 35th overall pick by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He previously played with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL).[3]

Playing career

Junior

Evans played with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL). He won a gold medal and was named the tournament's top defenseman while competing for the Telus Cup in 2018.[4]

Evans was selected in the tenth round (209th overall) in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.[5] In the 2018–19 season, he played 45 games, recording one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in his first season with Regina. In the 2020–21 season, he was named assistant captain of the Pats. In the 2021–22 season, still with the Pats, he registered 15 goals and 47 assists in 63 games.[6][7] He was then selected as the 35th overall pick by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[8]

Professional

Evans at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game.

On April 22, 2022, Evans signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Seattle Kraken.[9] In May 2022, he signed an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the Charlotte Checkers, the Kraken's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[10] He would then help the Checkers in the Calder Cup playoffs.

After attending the Kraken's 2022 training camp, Evans was re-assigned to play with the Kraken's new AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Evans helped the Firebirds off to a successful start, leading the league amongst rookie defenseman in points in earning a selection to the AHL All-Star Game.[11] Evans played with the Firebirds during the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, making it to the Calder Cup Final, losing in game seven to the Hershey Bears, managing 26 points in 26 games.[12]

Evans made his NHL debut with the Kraken on December 7, 2023, in a 2–1 loss against the New Jersey Devils,[13][14] where he was placed on a line with Brian Dumoulin.[15] He recorded his first NHL point (an assist) on December 12, in a 4–0 win against the Florida Panthers.[15][16] Evans scored his first NHL goal on March 22, 2024, in a 2–1 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes.[17][18]

Personal life

In fourth grade, Evans was diagnosed with celiac disease, which causes a reaction in the small intestine to eating gluten.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Calgary Royals AMBHL 2 0 3 3 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Calgary Royals AMBHL 36 3 16 19 28 2 1 0 1 2
2015–16 CRAA Blue AMMHL 5 0 4 4 6 1 1 2 3 2
2016–17 CRAA Blue AMMHL 36 4 23 27 68 4 0 5 5 4
2017–18 Notre Dame Hounds SMAAAHL 41 4 16 20 58 9 1 0 1 14
2018–19 Regina Pats WHL 45 1 10 11 32 — — — — —
2019–20 Regina Pats WHL 63 7 24 31 81 — — — — —
2020–21 Regina Pats WHL 24 3 25 28 37 — — — — —
2021–22 Regina Pats WHL 63 14 47 61 96 — — — — —
2022–23 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 71 6 38 44 74 26 5 21 26 26
2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 25 2 13 15 28
2023–24 Seattle Kraken NHL 36 1 8 9 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 36 1 8 9 20 — — — — —

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
WHL
East Second All-Star Team 2022 [19]
AHL
All-Star Game 2023 [11]
All-Rookie Team 2023 [20]

References

  1. ^ Shefte, Kate (February 9, 2024). "Ryker Evans on precipice of becoming Kraken's first homegrown defenseman". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Geoff Baker (August 2, 2021). "After proving doubters wrong, surprise draft pick Ryker Evans wants to prove the Kraken right". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Ryan S. Clark (January 27, 2022). "'You never become complacent': How being underestimated helped Kraken prospect Ryker Evans shape his game". The Athletic. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Seattle Kraken conclude 2021 NHL draft with six selections". dispatchnews.com. July 28, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Vanstone, Rob (July 29, 2021). "Pats' Ryker Evans excited to get crackin' with Kraken". leaderpost.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ryker Evans is experiencing California for the first time, proving that he belongs". The Desert Sun. December 14, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Despite Cale Makar connection, Kraken's Ryker Evans eager to chart own course". September 20, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Ryker Evans taken by Seattle Kraken in 2021 NHL Entry Draft". CHL.ca. July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Curtis Crabtree (April 22, 2022). "Kraken sign second-round pick Ryker Evans to entry-level deal". Fox 13 Seattle. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Seattle Assigns Dennis Cholowski To Charlotte, Checkers Sign Ryker Evans To ATO - Charlotte Checkers Hockey - charlottecheckers.com". charlottecheckers.com. May 2, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Two Firebirds named AHL All-Stars: Andrew Poturalski, Ryker Evans to represent team". desertsun.com. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Garcia, Kyle (June 22, 2023). "AHL: A Quick Recap of the Calder Cup Finals". Hockey Royalty. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "Ryker Evans on precipice of becoming Kraken's first homegrown defenseman". The Seattle Times. February 9, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Nemec scores 1st goal of career and Schmid makes 37 saves as Devils top Kraken 2-1". ESPN. December 7, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Playing With Ease: Ryker Evans' first NHL Point". nhl.com. December 24, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Kraken snap 8-game losing streak with 4-0 win over Panthers as Joey Daccord gets first shutout". ESPN. December 12, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Kraken Lose Shutout, Game Late". nhl.com. March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "Dylan Guenther scores in OT, Coyotes send Kraken to 7th straight loss with 2-1 victory". ESPN. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  19. ^ McIntyre, Pete (April 21, 2022). "WHL announces all-star teams". Vernon Matters. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "2022-23 AHL All-Rookie Team named". theahl.com. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.