Cole Evens came into this season excited to suit up as an assistant captain for the Whaler boys hockey team. Evens was excited to have a role on the Whaler’s first line with fellow seniors Hudson Perry and Riley Williams and was looking to build on a junior season where he experienced plenty of success in the Whaler’s top six forward group, but battled an injury for the second half of the season.
“I’ve been playing with the same group of guys since we were three or four years old,” Evens said. “We have spent a lot of time watching Nantucket High School hockey. We always dreamed of playing in front of our school and community.”
Then his worst fear happened. Evens suffered an injury prior to the start of the season that forced him to miss the first two games.
During this time, when Evens wasn’t behind the bench with his coaches during the games helping his team, I had the opportunity of getting to know Evens and would often find myself standing next to him as I covered these games. It was evident how much it irked him to be on the other side of the glass watching his teammates play without him.
“It means a lot to every player on the team to be able to represent our island,” Evens said. “It was hard to begin the season having to sit out, but it allowed me to appreciate all the time we have playing together as a team.”
Evens eventually made his way back on the ice and has made the most of his ice time since returning to game action. He has four goals and five assists in nine games this season, including a two point effort last Wednesday against the Barnstable Red Hawk’s Div. I program.
Evens scored the game-tying goal with under seven minutes to go in the period to help Nantucket walk out of the rink with a 2-2 tie. The tie, against a team in a higher division, ensured Nantucket some much-needed points as they fight to keep their spot in the top 10 of the Div. 4 state tournament bracket. Evens, thanks to his strong play of late and the adversity he has battled this season, is the Current Athlete of the Week.
“As a team we have all improved drastically since the beginning of the season,” he said. “We are playing at a high level right now, but we have so much more potential.”
Evens said it was a great feeling to secure the tying goal and celebrate in front of a raucous Barnstable student section.
“I think playing against the big programs in front of their fans and being able to compete with them is a big confidence booster for everyone on the team,” Evens said. “This should help us get on a roll and put a lot more goals on the board.”
Evens’ has played under head coach Scott Corbett since he was in middle school. Corbett knows Evens as well as anyone and had nothing but positive things to say about the senior sniper.
“Cole is a player with a very high hockey IQ,” Corbett said. “He’s a very good offensive player with a great shot. He expects a lot from himself and is constantly working to get better. Effort is never a problem with Cole. He’s had some unfortunate injuries during his high school career, but always tried to stay positive. He is a great kid and a pleasure to coach.”
Evens said Corbett and assistant coach Bob Hickman have done a lot to help not just him, but the entire team and program progress and develop during their high school careers.
Evens will have a chance to help lead Nantucket to another win and get to 5-5-2 on the season when they host Monomoy today at 5:15 p.m.
