Evan Thomas
September 6, 1999 – April 6, 2018
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
#17
Position: Right Wing
In a life too short-lived, there is not enough history, the meagre 213 months of his life spent with us were way too short. Canadians and the entire hockey world know of the tragedy that has caused us to write Evan’s story, but very few will know the impact this heartbreaking event has on those who remain behind to mourn his loss.
Let's take a minute to talk about some of what Evan was able to do in those few years he was here. Evan was a fantastic athlete and an even better student. He played a lot of baseball and hockey and he loved his teammates. Quality time with his teammates was a direct line to Evan's heart. Sometimes we think Evan played the sport not so much because he loved the sport itself, but because he loved the people he played with. If there is some comfort for him in this tragedy, it will come from the fact that he died amongst teammates he loved.
Evan played baseball with the Saskatoon Blue Jays and went to the 2014 Canadian National finals at the Bantam level in Toronto, where he was a Gold Glove Award recipient at second base. In hockey he was picked in the WHL Bantam Draft by the Kootenay Ice and signed with them in September of 2017, but he returned to play with the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL that same month.
In school he could pull out a 95% in almost any subject and with little effort. He was a prolific learner and it came easy to him. Evan won the Vanier Collegiate Science award in Grade 11 for the highest mark in the school. Evan attended Silverspring Elementary School and Centennial Collegiate in Saskatoon, then Vanier Collegiate in Moose Jaw in 2016 and 2017 while playing hockey for the Midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals. He returned to Saskatoon to graduate from Centennial Collegiate in June 2017.
Evan enjoyed family vacations, most recently in Cuba and Dominican Republic. Plus, the many years of family time at the lake where he will forever hold the Kaiser and Cribbage belts.
For Evan, the best was yet to come. It is a certainty that he would have pursued a career with the same zeal that he displayed in his sport and academic achievements. Whatever he would have chosen to do he would have done it well and been a true contributor to society. The world is at a loss almost as much as his family.
We want to thank the first responders and emergency personnel who tried to deal with the carnage of the accident, the RCMP, the community of Nipawin, the Humboldt Broncos organization and most importantly so very many friends, some from many years ago that have offered comfort and condolences. Your simple presence, your words, and your embraces made a difference to us.
Make no mistake, his passing was tragic and unfair. Anyone who knew him will mourn his loss forever. Evan was a magical light, lighting our lives with his engaging smile and generous heart. We will miss him forever.
Evan will be lovingly remembered by his mother Laurie, his father Scott and his sister Jordyn, his grandparents Frank and Betty Thomas, and Marg Ellard, great grandparents, Adaline Thomas and Mildred Norum, as well as numerous aunts, uncles. cousins, teammates and schoolmates.
Play for the name on the front, not the one on the back.
Evan Thomas Memorial Trust
In an effort to keep Evans legacy alive and well in our community the Thomas family has created the "Evan Thomas Memorial Trust". Through events such as the Evan Thomas Memorial AAA15U baseball tournament, the Evan Thomas Memorial 13U AA hockey tournament and the Evan Thomas Memorial hockey day we continue to give back to the community in Evans name. In 2019 Evans trust donated over $21000 to local scholarships, bursaries and charities.
For more information, please visit https://evanthomasmemorialtrust.ca/.