Shawn Evans up for MVP
Roughnecks star unable to cash in despite being a top player in league
If Shawn Evans were a hockey player he’d be signing multimillion- dollar contracts, fought over for his skills and endorsement opportunities. Instead, he makes less than the best billiards players and bowlers — even though he’s considered by many to be the best box lacrosse player on the planet.
Evans, in fact, might be the best athlete most Canadians have never heard about.
At 5- foot- 8 and 180 pounds, he’s one of the smallest players in the circuit, but he has a never- quit attitude that wins fans and wins games. He’s lacrosse’s answer to Tie Domi, but with far, far more skills. He’s the little guy they can’t knock down.
On Thursday, he was named a finalist for the National Lacrosse League’s MVP award, along with the Buffalo Bandits’ Ryan Benesch and Mark Matthews of the Edmonton Rush.
On his way to winning the league scoring title this season with the Calgary Roughnecks, he recorded 130 points in 18 games, shattering the single- season points records of 116 held by John Grant Jr.
“Shawn has a ton of skill and talent. He is one of those players who can put the ball in his stick in any situation, under any pressure and nine out of 10 he is going to make something happen,” says Roughnecks general manager Mike Board. “From there you add his heart and determination and you have the definition of a warrior in our game. He has the heart of a lion and the other players feed off that.”
With the NLL season over, Evans is playing for the Peterborough Lakers of the Major Series Lacrosse League. He’s their scoring champion, their MVP, as well, and at just 29 he’s in the prime of his career.
Another 100- point season would put him among the league’s top- 10 scorers, all- time.
Evans has held a lacrosse stick since he was in diapers — literally.
He’d toddle around the rinks while his older brothers, Steve and Scott, played minor lacrosse in Peterborough, a Canadian hotbed for one of the country’s oldest sports.
His mother, Carly, always thought “the Baby” would be the best lacrosse player in the family. Steve and Scott shone in minor lacrosse. Scott played in the NLL and still scores in the MSL, but their mother saw the baby’s spirit, passion and ability to bounce back.
His father, Paul, won numerous Minto and Mann cups, while also playing for the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. He made it to the AHL and even played a dozen games with the Maple Leafs in the NHL, alongside Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. Shawn’s uncles, Doug and Kevin, also played in the NHL. Dad showed the boys what it took to play. “I owe everything to my dad, he’s the best coach I ever had,” Shawn says.
More than 11 of his relatives have shared in 20 Minto and 24 Mann Cups.
Shawn has cousins playing field lacrosse on U. S. scholarships. One cousin, Erica Evans, is going to be this year’s rookie of the year in women’s U. S. college field lacrosse and will represent Canada in Scotland at the world championships this year.
There isn’t a lacrosse player in the game over the last 50 years who hasn’t run into a Peterborough Evans. The name is legendary, as is their loyalty; fight among themselves, yes, but lay one finger on a family member and you’re facing all of them.
If Evans were a member of a Canadian hockey family, like the Sutters or the Staals, he’d be rich.
But today he fights for every cent he gets playing lacrosse, flying every Thursday night from his home in Peterborough — where his wife and three small children live — to weekend NLL games, getting home early Sunday morning or later.
He has never made six figures playing lacrosse, not even combining the two leagues; maybe between the leagues — and with his partnership in a hockey school — he might get there some day, but not today. The best NLL players earn about $ 35,000 a season.
Media attention is confined to the cities he plays in; the national media tends to ignore the game in favour of more popular sports, although TSN will broadcasting regular season games next season.
“I’m fortunate enough to have been playing the sport my whole life and playing professionally the past 10 years but the facts are that minimal endorsements are given to lacrosse players and the salaries we receive don’t live up to what a player needs for themselves and families. Players throughout the league have to have part- or fulltime jobs, whether it be teacher, firefighter, while travelling hundred of miles across North America. You don’t often hear of other professional athletes with part- time jobs. I have three kids now and run my own lacrosse company specializing in camps and clinics to introduce the sport to our youth and to help my family.”
Roughnecks GM Board isn’t sure why there are so few endorsement opportunities for top Canadian lacrosse players.
“Market size likely has something to do with that. Lacrosse can get overshadowed by hockey in Canada at times. There obviously aren’t as many kids playing lacrosse as hockey so, for example, you are not likely to see a lacrosse player get a big endorsement deal in Canada. As the game continues to grow that may change; at the same time, it’s part of the attraction to the sport for fans. The players are not necessarily playing for the money or the endorsement, but more for the love of the game which is something pure.”
Evans, a prime example of that, has no agent, no promoter, and no manager. Agents won’t take him on. There is no market for box lacrosse players, no opportunities to sell running shoes, shorts, cereals, chocolate bars, power drinks. No Canadian company to promote one of the country’s best athletes.
Lacrosse players have never been well- rewarded in Canada. Superstars John Tavares and John Grant Jr. are both in their 40s, still playing the game; neither have cashed in on their talents. Canadians are more familiar with hockey’s Sedins, Henrik and Daniel, than lacrosse’s Gaits, Paul and Gary.
“I know there has to be opportunities out there,” Evans says, “I just don’t know how to obtain them.”
Evans thinks maybe if he broke the endorsement mould things would improve for other players, now and in the future. But nobody is knocking on his door and he doesn’t know what doors to knock on.
“We should have a better recognition for the professionals playing our national summer sport. I think Canadians should be extremely proud of this sport as it shows our heritage and culture throughout more than 125 years and multiple generations,” he says.
“It is becoming one of the fastest growing sports, not only in Canada, but across North America and the world. People have dedicated their lives to this sport but still can’t find the support other athletes have received. It’s time to take pride and recognize the work players put in on a daily basis.”
In the meantime, Evans is back with the Peterborough Lakers for another summer of riding buses to small rinks in Brampton, Six Nations, Kitchener, Oakville and Whitby to try and win yet another national championship for his hometown team in the senior men’s league.
In September, he’ll represent Canada at the world championships in Syracuse.
Hockey commentator Don Cherry would call him “a good Canadian boy.”
And if only he played hockey, or basketball, baseball or soccer, he could be a rich one.
It is becoming one of the fastest growing sports, not only in Canada, but across North America and the world. SHAWN EVANS