NEWS

The OJHL announced today that St. Michael's Buzzers forward Jake Evans (photo credit - Mike Ivall/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month for February after recording 14 assists and 17 points in 7 games played.  

Recently named to an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect for the second consecutive year, Evans finished his second season with the Buzzers strong, recording multiple points in five of his seven February contests.  Averaging two assists/game, his totals included a season-high five assist effort versus Toronto, to finish the year with 47 assists, fourth best in the entire OJHL, while also finishing top 20 in scoring.  Evans was ranked 104th overall in NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft and is committed join the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish next season.

"It's an honour to be named the Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month," said Evans.  "I'd like to thank the Buzzers and my teammates for a good finish to the regular season.  We now turn our sights at playoffs and, we as a team, look to do our best in the upcoming games. It would be an honour to be drafted into the NHL, but right now the focus is what I can do for my team to help them be successful."

"Jake has really elevated his game in the second half as he has begun to understand and embrace the attention externally and on the ice from opposition," said Buzzers General Manager and Head Coach Rich Ricci.  "Jake is a big part of our playoff drive and I expect that he will continue our great tradition of having NHL draft picks directly from the Buzzers."

Ryan Schmelzer of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres was runner-up to Evans as the South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month.  The Sabres captain recorded 20 points in 12 games played down the stretch to help the club capture a second consecutive West Division title.

Born on June 2, 1996, Jake Evans grew up in Toronto, Ontario playing his minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, ultimately finding his way to the Mississauga Rebels organization.

Evans would record 28 goals and 85 points in 56 games played for the minor midget Rebels in 2011-12, ultimately helping lead the club to the prestigious OHL Cup title with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against their GTHL rival, the Toronto Marlboros.  Following the season, Evans was selected by the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in the 8th round, 147th overall, of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, but chose instead to commit to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish program.  Having played five games as an affiliate during the season with the St. Michael’s Buzzers, recording an impressive two goals and two assists, Evans joined the club full-time in 2012-13 as one of the OJHL’s most anticipated rookies.

He would not disappoint in his rookie season, finishing the year seventh overall on the Buzzers in scoring with 44 points in 50 games played.  Evans was also the youngest member of Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior 'A' Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and was named to the OJHL Prospects Team that would defeat the CCHL Prospects at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All‐Star Challenge held in Wellington, Ontario.  The playmaker stepped up his game another notch in the post-season, finishing fourth on the club in scoring with 8 goals and 17 points in 24 games played as St. Michael’s captured their first OJHL Championship since 2006 and third in franchise history.  Despite falling to Minnesota in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Final, the season was deemed a success and Evans would be named OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect, runner-up as the OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year and a finalist for the inaugural CJHL Rookie of the Year Award.

Now one of the Buzzers veteran leaders, the 6’, 179 lbs. forward led the Buzzers with 47 assists this season, while finishing second on the club with 63 points in 49 games played.  His offensive totals tied him for 4th and 19th best in the OJHL overall.  Evans would also be named a member of Team Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge for the second consecutive year, while also competing at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge as a member of the South-West Conference All-Star Team, finishing as runner-up in the tournament to the QJAAAHL.