Jack Evans (ice hockey)

William John Trevor "Jack" Evans (April 21, 1928 – November 10, 1996) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks.

Jack Evans
Born (1928-04-21)April 21, 1928
Morriston, Wales, United Kingdom
Died November 10, 1996(1996-11-10) (aged 68)
Manchester, Connecticut, US
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks]]
Playing career 19461972

Early life

Evans was born in Morriston, Wales, but emigrated with his parents to Drumheller, Alberta in his youth. He spoke only the Welsh Language and no English until he entered school, and later spoke the language with an elongated drawl; the similarities between Evans' manner of speaking and the traditional Southern accent led to him earning the nickname of "Tex" from teammates. Although he did not begin playing hockey until age 14, by age 20, a quick-learning Evans was a leading junior league defenceman and participated in the 1948 Memorial Cup. That same year, he signed a minor league contract with the Rangers.

Professional career

Evans played five games over the next two seasons, while gaining experience in the American Hockey League. He would then spend the next four years as the Rangers' seventh defenceman, moving in and out of the lineup as needed and serving as a valuable defensive reserve. During the 1954–55 NHL season, Evans finally cracked the regular lineup and worked significant minutes for the next three years on the blue line. In 1958, he was claimed by Chicago, where he would play in a similar role for his final four seasons. He was a member of the 1961 Stanley Cup winning team making him the first Welsh born Stanley Cup Champion. Jack Evans played in 1962 NHL All Star game in Toronto also making him the first NHL All Star player originating from Wales. In 1964, the Black Hawks released Evans, but the veteran continued to play in a variety of minor leagues until he finally retired in 1972 at the age of 44.

Coaching career

In 1974, Evans was hired to coach the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the WHL. After one season that included coach of the year honors, he was promoted to the parent club California Golden Seals. He coached the anemic franchise in its final year in the Bay Area and its two seasons as the Cleveland Barons before the financially troubled organization merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978. The NHL returned to the Bay Area when the San Jose Sharks franchise started play in 1991.

Evans returned to the ECHL bench before being hired by the Hartford Whalers in 1983. In his third season with the club, he earned a playoff berth, and in 1987, he led the club to a division title. A poor performance the following year resulted in Evans being fired midseason.

Death

Evans died of prostate cancer at his Manchester, Connecticut home in 1996 at the age of 68.[1]

NHL Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
California Golden Seals1975-76 80274211654th in AdamsMissed Playoffs
Cleveland Barons1976-77 80254213634th in AdamsMissed Playoffs
Cleveland Barons1977-78 80224513574th in AdamsMissed Playoffs
Hartford Whalers1983-84 80284210665th in AdamsMissed Playoffs
Hartford Whalers1984-85 8030419694th in AdamsMissed Playoffs
Hartford Whalers1985-86 8040364844th in AdamsLost in 2nd Round
Hartford Whalers1986-87 8043307931st in AdamsLost in 1st Round
Hartford Whalers1987-88 5422257(77)4th in Adams(fired)
Total61423730374

See also

References

Preceded by
Bill McCreary, Sr.
Head coach of the California Golden Seals / Cleveland Barons
197578
Succeeded by
Position abolished
Preceded by
John Cunniff
Larry Pleau
Head coach of the Hartford Whalers
1983–87
1987–89
Succeeded by
Larry Pleau
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