Introduction
Ryker Garth Evans (born on December 13, 2001) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey defenceman for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect 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. He also played with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Playing career
In 2016, Ryker was selected with the 209th selection in the WHL Bantam Draft. In the 2018–19 WHL season, he played 45 games, scoring 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in his 1st season with Regina. In the 2020–21 season, he was named assistant captain of the Pats. In the 2021–22 season, still with the Pats, he registered 61 points in 63 games.
On April 22, 2022, Evans signed a three-year, entry-level contract, worth $925,000 per season with the Seattle Kraken. After attending the Kraken's 2022 training camp, Evans was re-assigned to begin his professional career in the 2022–23 season with inaugural AHL affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds. Evans helped the Firebirds off to a successful start from the blueline, leading the league among rookie defenseman in points in earning a selection to the AHL All-Star Game.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | Calgary Royals | AMBHL | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Calgary Royals | AMBHL | 36 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | CRAA Blue | AMMHL | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | CRAA Blue | AMMHL | 36 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 68 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | Notre Dame Hounds | SMAAAHL | 41 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 58 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | ||
| 2018–19 | Regina Pats | WHL | 45 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Regina Pats | WHL | 63 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Regina Pats | WHL | 24 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Regina Pats | WHL | 63 | 14 | 47 | 61 | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Coachella Valley Firebirds | AHL | 71 | 6 | 38 | 44 | 74 | 26 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 26 | ||
| AHL totals | 71 | 6 | 38 | 44 | 74 | 26 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 26 | ||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| WHL | ||
| East Second All-Star Team | 2022 | |
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2023 | |
| All-Rookie Team | 2023 | |