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.