Johnny Evans (Canadian football) explained

Johnny Evans
Birth Date:22 March 1897
Birth Place:Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Position1:Quarterback
College:Queen's University
Playing Years1:1919–23
Playing Team1:Queen's University
Playing Years2:1924
Playing Team2:Hamilton Tigers
Career Highlights:

John Hamilton Evans (March 22, 1897 – June 27, 1932) was a university all-star and Grey Cup champion Canadian football quarterback.

While attending Queen's University, Evans had a spectacular football career.[1] Quarterback for a Grey Cup championship dynasty, he led the Golden Gaels to two of their three victories (1922 & 1923), scoring two touchdowns in the 11th Grey Cup[2] (the greatest victory in the history of the game; 54-0 over the Regina Roughriders). He was one of the top quarterbacks in the country, being selected as a Toronto Globe all-star three times.

He also played one season for the Hamilton Tigers in 1924.[3]

Evans was one of the best players to ever wear the Tricolour, and one of Queen's best quarterbacks.[4] He died on June 27, 1932 after accidentally driving his vehicle into a canal in Sault Ste. Marie, where he was working as a physician for the Algoma Steel Company.[5] After his tragic accidental death, the University Football Team has presented an award, the Johnny Evans Memorial Award for Most Valuable Player, to honour his memory.[6] He has been enshrined in the Queen's University Football Hall of Fame.

Notes and References

  1. CFLAPEDIA entry: Queen's University
  2. Web site: CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League . 2010-05-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100823210703/https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1923 . 2010-08-23 . CFL website: History >> Grey Cup 1923
  3. CFLAPEDIA entry: Hamilton Tigers
  4. Queen's University 2011 Football Media Guide, page 36
  5. News: Dr. Johnny Evans Was Drowned at the Soo. Kingston Whig-Standard. June 27, 1932. 3.
  6. ibid.