Peterborough's Shawn Evans Traded to Halifax Thunderbirds For Draft Picks

Lakers alumnus and Peterborough’s Shawn Evans has been traded to the Halifax Thunderbirds from the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League announced Wednesday.

The Halifax Thunderbirds made their league debut on Dec. 7, 2019, defeating the New York Riptide 12–4 Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Halifax is sending their second-round draft pick in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft and their top first-round compensation pick in the same draft for Evans.

The 35-year-old won a Champion’s Cup with the 2007 Knighthawks. He is a two-time National Lacrosse League MVP (2013 and 2015) and has been a four-time NLL All-Pro First Team member (2013-16) and an NLL All-Pro Second Team member (2012). He was also named to the 2006 NLL All-Rookie Team. 

He was selected by the Rochester Knighthawks in the first round (second overall) of the 2005 NLL Entry Draft. The Knighthawks took Evans first overall in the 2019 NLL Expansion Draft.

“Shawn Evans’s career speaks for itself. Evy is a proven winner at all levels, from junior to the pros,” said Curt Styres, Thunderbirds owner and general manager. “Whenever you are able to add a player of Shawn’s calibre to your roster this late in the stretch, it is a no-brainer.”

Photo courtesy of the Halifax Thunderbirds.

After spending his first six seasons with the team, he spent the next four years with the Calgary Roughnecks, where Evans won both his MVPs and set then-records for most assists recorded in a single season (83) and points (130) in 2015.

The Peterborough, Ontario native has 1,277 points (453 goals and 824 assists). His 453 goals are the ninth most recorded by a player in NLL history, his 824 assists are the fifth-most in NLL history and his 1,277 points are the sixth-most in NLL history and the second-most amongst active NLL forwards. Evans also has the third-most penalty minutes in league history with 591 PIM.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound right-hander led the Knighthawks in scoring and assists in their 10 games played this season. His best game of the season so far came on Feb. 12 against the Albany FireWolves, where he put up 10 points (1G, 9A) in the team’s 15-13 win against the Eastern Conference foe.

“Evans is a proven winner with championships and MVPs in multiple leagues,” said Mike Accursi, Thunderbirds head coach. “He brings grit and experience along with a tremendously high lacrosse IQ. I’m excited to see him work with our offense group.”

Evans spent part of the next three seasons with the New England Black Wolves before being traded to the Buffalo Bandits midway through the 2018 NLL season.

During the 2016 season, Evans recorded 118 points (50 goals, 68 assists), which is the third-highest single-season points total. He is the only player to hold multiple spots in the top 10 most points recorded in a single NLL season.

Over the last two seasons, Evans has 90 points (23G, 67A) in 19 games. 

If the Thunderbirds do not receive a first-round compensation pick for the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Knighthawks will receive the team’s best first-round compensatory pick in the 2024 NLL Entry Draft.

If no first-round compensatory pick is awarded ahead of that draft, then it becomes the Thunderbirds’ best first-round compensation pick in the 2025 NLL Entry Draft.

If Halifax does not receive a compensatory pick in that instance, then Rochester receives their first-round selection in the 2025 NLL Entry Draft and Halifax receives Rochester’s second-round draft pick in that same draft in return.

“The next three weeks are defining moments for us. In the next 18 days, home floor advantage could be decided in the NLL,” said Styres. “Adding Shawn Evans will help our team, as we know COVID is always knocking on each team’s door.”

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