Pats Alumnus Evans Named To 2023 AHL All-Star Classic
Regina, Sask. – The American Hockey League announced today the playing rosters for the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Bell in collaboration with Manulife Bank, to be held February 5-6 in Laval, Que.
Pats Alumnus (2018-2022) Ryker Evans was one of two Seattle Kraken prospects named to the roster, as he and Andrew Poturalksi will represent the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic.
The 21-year-old defenceman from Calgary, Alta. has posted 21 points (3G-18A) and a +18 plus/minus rating in 32 games this season. Amongst all AHL defencemen, Evans ranks tied for 11th in points and ninth in assists, while leading all rookie defencemen in assists and tied for first in points. He is currently in his first pro season and was previously drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Evans spent four seasons with the Pats, recording 25 goals, 106 assists for 131 points in 195 career games, ranking 13th in franchise history in assists amongst defencemen and 19th in points. Last season, the 6-foot, 192 lb. defenceman set career highs in goals (14), assists (37) and points (61), ranking fifth among WHL defencemen in power play assists (24), seventh in points and eighth in assists, while also taking him his third straight Charles Johnston Memorial Trophy for the Pats Top Defenceman.
Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson, Toronto Marlies head coach Greg Moore, Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham and Calgary Wranglers head coach Mitch Love will serve as coaches for the event.
The 2023 Rona AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, Feb. 5 (6 p.m. ET) will pit the All-Stars from the two Eastern Conference divisions against those from the two Western Conference divisions in seven skills events.
In the 2023 Mise-o-jeu AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday, Feb. 6 (7 p.m. ET), the four teams will participate in a 3-on-3, round-robin tournament featuring six games of 10 minutes each. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin will face off for the championship, a six-minute, 3-on-3 game.
