Ryker Evans Explained

Ryker Evans
Birth Date:13 December 2001
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:189
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Seattle Kraken
Prospect Team:Coachella Valley Firebirds
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:35th overall
Draft Year:2021
Draft Team:Seattle Kraken
Career Start:2022

Ryker Garth Evans[1] (born on December 13, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) under contract to 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 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

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.[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.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2014–15Calgary RoyalsAMBHL2 0 3 3 0
2015–16Calgary RoyalsAMBHL36 3 16 19 282 1 0 1 2
2015–16CRAA BlueAMMHL5 0 4 4 61 1 2 3 2
2016–17CRAA BlueAMMHL36 4 23 27 684 0 5 5 4
2017–18Notre Dame HoundsSMAAAHL41 4 16 20 589 1 0 1 14
2018–19Regina PatsWHL45 1 10 11 32
2019–20Regina PatsWHL63 7 24 31 81
2020–21Regina PatsWHL24 3 25 28 37
2021–22Regina PatsWHL63 14 47 61 96
2022–23Coachella Valley FirebirdsAHL71 6 38 44 7426 5 21 26 26
2023–24Coachella Valley FirebirdsAHL25 2 13 15 28
2023–24Seattle KrakenNHL36 1 8 9 20
NHL totals36 1 8 9 20

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
WHL
East Second All-Star Team2022[19]
AHL
All-Star Game2023
All-Rookie Team2023[20]

Notes and References

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