Evan Klein commits to Spirit

Saginaw, MI – The Saginaw Spirit announced today that forward Evan Klein, the Spirit fourth round pick (75^th overall) in the 2020 OHL Under-17 Priority Selection, has committed to an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Standard Player Agreement and Education Package.

“We are pleased that Evan and his family have committed to the Spirit organization today,” said Saginaw Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill. “He is a player that we feel has a ton of room to grow his game and I know our coaching staff is excited to get started with him.”

Klein, 16, is a native of Waterloo, Ontario, and coming off of a team-leading, 41-point season for his hometown Waterloo Wolves Minor Midget team. The 6’2, 192-pound left wing had 23 goals and 18 assists last season in 30 games. That 41-point total was eighth-best in the entire ALLIANCE Hockey (Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario).

“It was a huge honor (to be drafted by the Spirit),” said Klein in a Zoom interview with Joey Battaino. “This year was a little different going into the draft. You had to keep your social distancing. You had to stay away from people, so you couldn’t celebrate with friends and family the way you normally would. Still, I was shocked when I saw my name and excited to be a part of the Spirit Organization. I am looking forward to the time I will be able to meet the guys and get started in training camp.”

Klein told Battaino he models his game after Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, “He’s a pretty big guy (like myself), he can shoot the puck well and I feel I have a good shot. He’s also a natural scorer and I feel like I have a scoring touch, as well.”

For more information on the Saginaw Spirit, stay tuned to www.saginawspirit.com