It’s a dream come true for Evan Gardner.
The 19-year-old goaltender for the Saskatoon Blades put pen to paper today (Tuesday) with the Columbus Blue Jackets finalizing a three-year entry level contract.
Gardner was selected by Columbus in the second round, 60th overall, at the 2024 NHL Draft held at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
This season he has posted a 22-12-4 record with a 2.83 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and three shutouts.
Gardner ranks fourth-T in the league in save percentage and shutouts, seventh-T in goals-against average and 10th-T in victories in 2024-25. He has won four-straight starts with a 1.25 GAA, .960 SV% and two shutouts since March 7th.
Much like, PG Cougars netminder Josh Ravensbergen, Gardner took the WHL by storm last season as a rookie, claiming the Blades net posting a record of 21-5-0-2. He had a goals against average of 1.91 and a save percentage of .927.
Gardner also went 10-1-3 in the 2024 playoffs which saw the Blades fall in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to the eventual league champion Moose Jaw Warriors.
Saskatoon sits with a record of 36-23-3-4, which is fifth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
EVAN GARDNER!
The @BlueJacketsNHL have signed the Gardfather to a three-year entry-level contract!
READ MORE 📰 | https://t.co/UEwu5jZhF0 pic.twitter.com/Zcv5cI9uAu
— x – Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 18, 2025
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