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Montreal Canadiens: Jake Evans advances to the NCAA Frozen Four

By Omar L

MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 25: Minnesota Golden Gophers goaltender Eric Schierhorn (37) eyes the shot from Notre Dame Fighting Irish center Jake Evans (18) during an NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal between the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 25, 2017, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Fighting Irish defeated the Golden Gophers 3-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 25: Minnesota Golden Gophers goaltender Eric Schierhorn (37) eyes the shot from Notre Dame Fighting Irish center Jake Evans (18) during an NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal between the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 25, 2017, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Fighting Irish defeated the Golden Gophers 3-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens prospect Jake Evans was involved in an intense game Saturday night, but he and the Fighting Irish have made it to the Frozen Four.

The first two rounds of the 2018 NCAA Tournament wrapped up fairly quickly, and teams are now starting to qualify for the Frozen Four. The Montreal Canadiens were well represented at the annual tournament with Ryan Poehling, Jake Evans, Cayden Primeau, and Hayden Hawkey, but there is now only one prospect left with the opportunity to take home the top prize.

Poehling and St. Cloud State was on the wrong end of an upset in the West bracket losing to the Air Force Academy. Habs 2017 seventh-round pick Primeau had a spectacular rookie season come to an end as Northeastern University dropped their game to Michigan. Fortunately, both Evans and Hawkey qualified for the next round after finishing off their opening rounds competition in Michigan Tech and Clarkson respectively.

However, it was Habs prospect vs. Habs prospect in the next round for the two schools. The game was tight, but Providence got on the board first early in the opening period. The Fighting Irish kept on, well, fighting, and managed to tie the game up in the second on the power play. Evans got an assist on the play as he one of the players in the scrum taking shots at Hawkey to get the tying goal.

The intensity of the match never faltered, but Notre Dame scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds to spare. Providence had very little time to tie it, and that was the end for them making the Fighting Irish the second team to clinch a spot in the Frozen Four. Hawkey gave his team a chance stopping 21 of 23 shots to finish off his junior year.

Now Evans and Notre Dame have nearly two weeks off until their next game on April 5th. Their opponent will be the winner between Boston University and Michigan while could give Montreal Canadiens fans a chance to watch potential draft pick, Brady Tkachuk if BU comes away with the win.

Next: Four Things Left For The Season

As for the Montreal Canadiens 2014 seventh-round pick, his special senior year continues which does nothing but good for his development and confidence. There hasn’t been any word of an entry-level contract for Evans yet, but the Habs will most likely jump to get him signed once the season is over. It would be one of many contracts handed out by the team solidifying their focus on youth and the future. However, the 21-year-old is going to be looking to keep his going as the 2018 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament continues.

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