NHL Rookie Showdown: Thinking of Jake

LAVAL - The Canadiens' prospects were blanked in Friday night's NHL Rookie Showdown opener, but the topic of conversation following the final buzzer was focused squarely on the health status of young gun Jake Evans.

With just under 13 minutes remaining in the third period, the 22-year-old centerman was hit hard entering the Ottawa Senators' zone, fell awkwardly on the ice, and lay motionless before eventually being carted off on a stretcher.
It was a scary moment for everyone in attendance at Place Bell. The rink essentially fell silent for several minutes while the University of Notre Dame grad was being attended to by medical staff.

Shortly after the 4-0 loss, the Canadiens announced via social media that Evans had been transported to hospital to undergo further evaluation. He was conscious and moving his limbs, though, which was obviously positive news.
Evans' teammates shared their concern for his well-being.
"It's always scary to see someone hit their head like that. I hope everything is o.k.," said Will Bitten. "He's my roommate. I wish him all the best."

Alexandre Alain wished Evans well, too.
"We're thinking of Jake. Those things happen, but it's always tough to see," mentioned Alain. "Our thoughts are definitely with him."
The man charged with handling the coaching responsibilities for games and practices at Rookie Camp this time around - Laval Rocket bench boss, Joël Bouchard - also stressed that Evans' health was the primary concern following the tilt.
"The injury to our player is what matters most. The health of our players is the only thing that matters," explained Bouchard. "He left here conscious. We saw him move his limbs on the ice. It was an emotional moment, for both teams and for the fans in the stands. Now, we focus on the player. We'll make sure that he gets well and makes progress slowly. That will always be our priority."

Rookie Camp will continue on Saturday with a practice at 12 p.m. ET at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
Bouchard's contingent will be back in action at the NHL Rookie Showdown on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET at Place Bell against the best and brightest in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system.