Jake Evans (ice hockey)

Jake Evans (born June 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 207th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Evans played for the University of Notre Dame in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Big Ten Conference and was signed following his senior season with the Fighting Irish to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on April 9, 2018. On February 10, 2020, Evans scored his first NHL goal in the Canadiens' 3–2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

On June 2, 2021, Evans received a hard open ice hit from Winnipeg Jets player Mark Scheifele during Game 1 of the second round of the 2021 playoffs, that left him stretchered off the ice. As a result, he missed the remaining games against the Winnipeg Jets and the entire semi-final series against the Vegas Golden Knights. He returned as a replacement for Joel Armia during the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Scheifele was suspended for four games following the hit.

On October 3, 2021, Evans signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension with the Canadiens.

Personal life
Evans was born in Toronto, Ontario, to parents Wayne and Marilyn. His mother is a family physician with a practice in Mississauga and his father is a salesman. He also grew up with an older brother, Matthew, who works in finance and two cousins who played college ice hockey at Cornell University. As a child, Evans played piano and earned his Grade 7 Royal Conservatory certificate.

In June 2023, Evans got engaged to high school sweetheart Emily Flat. They were married at the Luttrellstown Castle Resort located in Dublin, Ireland a year later.