Someday far in the future, Ryker Evans might find himself with a grandchild on his knee, recounting the moment he scored his first NHL goal as a defenseman for the Seattle Kraken back in 2024. But his story could take an unexpected turn.
Wait, they used to have an NHL team in Arizona?
(Granted, by then, the cryogenically preserved head of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman might have granted another franchise to Phoenix, but let's go with this.)
Offense has always been a strong suit for Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. History will record that Evans scored his first-and so far only-NHL goal against a team that ceased to exist just a month later, in an arena that wasn't even designed for professional hockey. On March 22, 2024, during the third period at Arizona State University's Mullet Arena in Tempe, AZ, Evans fired a laser from the left circle that zipped past the far right post. He barely had time to shout
Yes!
before his elated teammates swarmed him in celebration.
a debut to remember
Just a few months earlier, Evans made his NHL debut in a December home game against the New Jersey Devils. Coincidentally, this debut was captured by a production crew filming the
Road to the Winter Classic
series, which ended up featuring proud moments from Ryker's parents in the stands at Climate Pledge Arena.
It's still surreal,
said his mother, Lisa Evans, who once found a way around junior hockey rules to help her son.
I've always believed in him, but seeing it all come together is overwhelming. I'm just so proud.
a family's pride
Ryker described his father, Mike Evans, a power skating coach, as
a competitive guy
who once made him stay on the ice for seven minutes straight when the team wasn't performing well. But on this night, Mike confessed,
The tears came when he took his rookie lap. I didn't think I would cry, but I did.
a unique path to the nhl
That seven-minute shift is just one example of what sets Ryker Evans apart. As he shared with The Kraken Pod, at 17, he was anxious about making the minimum weight to play in the Western Hockey League. (At 15, he was still only 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds.)
We had to weigh in at the start of camp
with the Regina Pats.
We tied ankle weights to my thighs. My mom actually came up with that idea.
Despite playing four seasons and 195 games on the Pats' blueline, Evans went undrafted in both 2019 and 2020. Those familiar with his calm demeanor might be surprised to learn that by the time the 2021 NHL Draft arrived,
I was angry that I'd been overlooked twice.
seattle's lucky break
But that frustration turned out to be a blessing for Kraken GM Ron Francis, who called Regina on July 24, 2021.
Ryker, this is Ron Francis with the Seattle Kraken. Are you watching the draft?
Evans, ever the straight shooter, replied,
I just woke up.
Did you see we picked you (in the 2nd round)?
Yes, I did. Thank you!
Laughter erupted from the Kraken staff listening in.
I was just lying in bed,
Evans remembered.
My parents were upstairs watching the draft. Suddenly, I heard yelling and screaming. I thought the house was on fire. Two minutes later, Ron called.
