Prospects Perspective: Evans at Elite Level

As his Western Hockey League Regina Pats team entered the second half of their schedule, defenseman and alternate captain Ryker Evans continued his lead-by-example season. He scored his fifth goal and added a primary assist in a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Monday night.
Better yet, Evans tallied the game-winning goal in the victory over an Oil Kings squad that was 22-6-2-1 in the first half while Regina is now 13-16 on the year. Evans is leading the way with five goals and 25 assists (the latter tied for third highest in WHL) for 30 points in 29 games.

Regina has rebounded from an early-season losing streak on the strength of significant offensive production from Evans and 16-year-old Connor Bedard, who scored a goal in Canada's opening win at the World Junior Championships.

Evans took a pass just outside the Edmonton zone on the winning goal, spinning to enter the offensive zone and speeding past a defender to score. It's yet another example of his skating speed, especially impressive for a defenseman.
Just a couple minutes before the game-winning goal, Evans held a clearing attempt to keep the puck in the offensive zone, then dished to a teammate for a one-time shot and Regina's fifth goal.

Draft Choices Roundup

Matty Beniers, the Kraken's first-round draft choice and No. 2 overall pick in last July's NHL Draft, started his second World Juniors tournament on a high note. He notched an assist in a 3-2 USA victory over Slovakia Saturday, contributing mightily to a hard-fought, close contest by playing his usual energetic all-zones game plus winning all nine of his faceoffs.

Kraken fourth-rounder, defenseman Ville Ottavainen, appeared in one of Team Finland's opening two wins in Group A play. Ottavainen played a solid defensive game, manning second-pair minutes.

Disappointment at World Juniors

Kraken draft choices Beniers and Ottavainen are among the world's best under-20 players with heavy hearts waking up Thursday. The 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation Championship has been canceled due to concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks.
After four days of play and positive cases forcing the USA (two cases), Czechia and Russia (one case each) to enter full-team quarantines and forfeit Tuesday and Wednesday games, IIHF officials met to decide whether finishing the tournament was viable.
"The ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the omicron variant forced us to readjust our protocols almost immediately upon arrival to attempt to stay ahead of any potential spread," IIHF president Luc Tardif said. "This included daily testing and the team quarantine requirement when positive cases were confirmed."
Tardif discussed the possibility of completing the tournament in June, July or August. Further discussions will be held in January.
Tardif said if the 2022 WJC were to be completed, that all players on the current rosters, regardless of whether they turn 20 at the time of the tournament, will be eligible to play for their countries.