Johnny Evans (Canadian football)

Johnny Evans

Born:	(1897-03-22)March 22, 1897 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Died:	June 27, 1932(1932-06-27) (aged 35) Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Career information
Position(s)	Quarterback
College	Queen's University
Career history
As player
1919–23	Queen's University
1924	Hamilton Tigers
Career highlights and awards
2× Grey Cup champion (1922, 1923) 3× CFL Eastern All-Star (1921, 1922, 1923)

John Hamilton Evans (March 22, 1897 – June 27, 1932) was a university all-star and Grey Cup champion Canadian football quarterback.

While attending Queen's University, Evans had a spectacular football career.[1] Quarterback for a Grey Cup championship dynasty, he led the Golden Gaels to two of their three victories (1922 & 1923), scoring two touchdowns in the 11th Grey Cup[2] (the greatest victory in the history of the game; 54-0 over the Regina Roughriders). He was one of the top quarterbacks in the country, being selected as a Toronto Globe all-star three times.

He also played one season for the Hamilton Tigers in 1924.[3]

Evans was one of the best players to ever wear the Tricolour, and one of Queen's best quarterbacks.[4] He died on June 27, 1932 after accidentally driving his vehicle into a canal in Sault Ste. Marie, where he was working as a physician for the Algoma Steel Company.[5] After his tragic accidental death, the University Football Team has presented an award, the Johnny Evans Memorial Award for Most Valuable Player, to honour his memory.[6] He has been enshrined in the Queen's University Football Hall of Fame.

References

1. CFLAPEDIA entry: Queen's University
2. "CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League". Archived from the original on 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-05-27. CFL website: History >> Grey Cup 1923
3. CFLAPEDIA entry: Hamilton Tigers
4. Queen's University 2011 Football Media Guide, page 36
5. "Dr. Johnny Evans Was Drowned at the Soo". Kingston Whig-Standard. June 27, 1932. p. 3.
6. ibid.