April 4, 2018

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Fighting Irish senior captain Jake Evans has been named the winner of college hockey's 2018 Senior CLASS Award® it was announced on Wednesday (April 4).

"I'm honored to win this award," the senior captain said. "I think it is a testament to the culture our coaching staff has built here at Notre Dame, where our education and off the ice actions are all part of what it means to be a member of the Fighting Irish. Being pushed by my teammates daily also contributed to winning this award and I also have to credit my parents, who instilled the values that this award honors."

Awarded annually to a men's ice hockey student-athlete who excels both on and off the ice, a candidate must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

"It is a well deserved award for Jake due to his overall commitment to everything he has done for our program on and off the ice," Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson said. "The award symbolizes the value of a player making an impact in all four years. Jake exemplifies being a Notre Dame man and becoming a well-rounded person is what this Senior CLASS award is all about."

Evans, who currently leads the Irish in points (42) and assists (31) and he has now registered back-to-back 42 point seasons. A first team All-Big Ten selection, he is also tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (4) and shorthanded tallies.

The Toronto native has skated in 129 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season and has totaled 156 career games played in an Irish uniform. He has notched 134 career points (39-95-134) to rank tied for 21st all time in career points, while his 95 assists rank 15th.

Evans helped lead the Irish to Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in Notre Dame's first season in the league. A management consulting major in Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, Evans was a seventh round draft pick (207 overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Evans becomes the second Notre Dame player to earn the Senior CLASS award, joining former goaltender David Brown, who won the award in 2007.

With comeback wins over No. 4 seed Michigan Tech and No. 2 seed Providence College at the NCAA East Regional in Bridgeport, Connecticut, No. 1 seed Notre Dame has advanced to the Frozen Four for the fourth time in program history.

Evans and the Irish will take on Big Ten foe Michigan on Thursday, April 5, in the second national semifinal game. The puck will drop at 9:30 p.m. ET from the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and will be televised on ESPN2.