Scroll down the top five BC Hockey League (BCHL) goal-scoring streaks during the 2016-17 season and Powell River Kings forward Jonny Evans’ name appears three times.
Between October 21 and 30, Evans had a scoring streak of seven goals in five games. His next tear came from January 6 to January 13 when he recorded five goals in four games. To top it off, the sharpshooter scored seven goals in five games from October 21 to October 30.
Evans has consistently been among the top scorers in the league throughout the season and a regular player of the game.
If that is not impressive enough, after scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists for 24 points in 11 games in January, Canadian Junior Hockey League, which includes 10 leagues and 126 teams across the country, named Evans its first star for the first month of 2017.
Evans finished fifth in the BCHL regular season scoring race with 36 goals and 42 assists for 78 points, with a points-per-game average of 1.34. By any account, Evans had a great season.
Evans said he had a decent year last season, but he was not expecting the scoring output he produced this year.
“It kind of just clicked,” said Evans. “Everything is coming along good.”
Evans said coaching from head coach Kent Lewis and assistant Brock Sawyer has been a huge help.
Evans said his linemates, Cam Donaldson and Ben Berard, have to be credited for making him look good this year.
“It’s been exciting, to say the least,” said Donaldson. “Jonny is a really great player. He can absolutely light it on fire with his offensive abilities. It’s fun playing with him.”
Evans said he has concentrated on improving his tenacity to get after the puck in areas of the ice where goals that are not always pretty are scored. He also said he has been working on his release and one-timers so he can get his shot off quicker.
Lewis said he never puts scoring expectations on any of his players, but when the Kings brought in Evans as a 17-year-old rookie, he felt Evans was capable and would fit into the Kings program.
“He’s just gotten better and better,” said Lewis. “I’m not going to say we expected him to score 24 points in 11 games, but he’s a skilled player and he has a good cast around him.”
At five-foot-nine inches and 156 pounds, Evans is on the small side.
“Some guys can be intimidated going up against those bigger guys,” said Evans. “I’m not. I have all the gear on, right?”
When he joined the Kings, Lewis said Evans was slight and small, but that “everybody loves the little guy.”
“A smaller player has to be able to handle getting hit and a smaller player has to be good,” said Lewis. “Whether you’re big or little, you have to be good, and smart. When you’re on the smaller side, you’re not going to be the bruiser. He uses his body well, he’s good in the corners, he has intelligence and uses it to his advantage.”
Going into the playoffs and with another year of junior eligibility left, Powell River is in an enviable position of having one of the league’s best offensive players in the lineup.
Evans was not in the lineup for the Kings’ last two games of the regular season, mean-nothing contests which did not affect the team’s first-round matchup against Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Kings tied Alberni Valley Bulldogs 5-5 and lost to Cowichan 3-1 heading into the first round. Kings playoff action starts on Friday, March 3, at Hap Parker Arena.
