AWARDS: Evans takes home top honour as Pats Player of the Year
REGINA – After finishing second amongst all WHL defencemen in scoring, Ryker Evans has been named the Regina Pats 2020-21 Player of the Year.
The announcement was made Monday and concluded the Pats’ year-end awards campaign, which opened back on May 4.
Evans was selected for the award by Pats hockey operations after appearing in all 24 games for Regina this season inside the Subway WHL Hub. The 19-year-old Calgary, Alta. product finished in a tie with Connor Bedard for the team lead in points with 28 and is the first defencemen to win the award since Colby Williams in 2014-15.
Evans finished his third season in Regina with three goals and 25 assists, averaging 1.17 points per game. That production marked a significant leap from the Pats’ top defencemen, who averaged 0.49 points per game a year ago.
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24 GP | 3G-25A | 2nd in @TheWHL in D scoring
➡️ https://t.co/K0drNsHthR#BestOfTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/doGo1pKvEQ
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) May 12, 2021
The award was Evans’ fourth Pats year-end award this season after previously being named Charles Johnston Memorial Top Defenceman, Bill Hicke Most Popular Player, and splitting the Torchy Schell Top Scorer award.
“There’s no question that receiving this award is warranted and the big reward is hopefully going to come in June when he gets drafted,” Pats head coach Dave Struch said of his NHL Draft hopeful.
“What he’s done in the offseason has been the biggest reason why he’s come this far. He’s committed to getting better as a person, as a player, and he’s become a very big part of our leadership group. It’s all paying off for him.”
The 2020-21 WHL Awards will be presented beginning Monday, May 31 with WHL Division All-Stars and Awards, followed by overall WHL Awards beginning Monday, June 7.
Recent Pats Player of the Year winners
- 2019-20: F – Robbie Holmes | 57 GP | 19 G | 29 A | 49 Pts.
- 2018-19: F – Austin Pratt | 68 GP | 25 G | 26 A | 51 Pts.
- 2017-18: F – Sam Steel | 54 GP | 33 G | 50 A | 83 Pts.
- 2016-17: F – Sam Steel | 66 GP | 50 G | 81 A | 131 Pts.
- 2015-16: F – Adam Brooks | 72 GP | 38 G | 82 A | 120 Pts.
- 2014-15: D – Colby Williams | 64 GP | 11 G | 30 A | 41 Pts.
- 2013-14: F – Dyson Stevenson | 66 GP | 38 G | 38 A | 76 Pts.
- 2012-13: F – Lane Scheidl | 72 GP | 41 G | 39 A | 90 Pts.
- 2011-12: F – Jordan Weal | 70 GP | 41 G | 75 A | 116 Pts.
