In the fast-paced, heart-pounding world of Canadian lacrosse, few names resonate like Scott Evans, a Peterborough icon whose relentless drive and electric presence redefined the game.
On November 1, at the MontHill Golf & Country Club in Caledonia, Ontario, he will be enshrined in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame alongside luminaries like Cory Bomberry, Neil Doddridge, Julie Norton, Phil Sanderson, Kylee Reade White, veterans Pat Differ and Ted Greves, builders Mena Briscoe, Jim Calder, Tewenhni’Tatshon/Louis Delisle, Frank Roundpoint, and the 1993–96 Jr. A Northmen team.
Evans’ journey, from minor lacrosse to five Mann Cup championships with the Peterborough Lakers, is a story of teamwork, family and a love for the game that continues to inspire.
His career stats are staggering: 770 points in 194 regular-season Major Series Lacrosse games and 499 points in 189 playoff games, averaging over three points per game. Plus, his 121 points in 36 Mann Cup games rank him seventh all-time in the championship’s history. A two-time Bucko McDonald Award winner as the OLA Major Series’ top scorer in 2005 and 2006, he powered the Lakers to titles in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012. Yet it is the moments beyond the numbers, on the floor and in the community, that make him a Hall of Famer.
While preparing to coach a U9 minor Lakers squad, Evans received the life-changing call about his induction. He says the unexpected phone call was a big surprise and a moment of pride.
Raised in Peterborough’s lacrosse-rich culture, Evans was shaped by a sprawling family dynasty, including his dad Paul and uncle Brian, both Hall of Famers, as well as uncles Doug, Kevin, Mark and Dave, alongside brothers Stephen and Shawn and numerous cousins. As the third Evans inducted, he sees the honour as a reflection of their collective support.
There have been countless game changing performances from Evans over the years, and many big goals during his storied career, but there was one pivotal moment from his peewee days that would foreshadow his future clutch performances.
That early thrill of rising to the occasion became a hallmark of his career, but it’s the 2004 Mann Cup victory that remains a defining chapter. With Peterborough recovering from a devastating flood, the Lakers, a team of mostly local talent, stunned the lacrosse world.
Evans’ magnetic presence made him a fan favourite, and his ability to shift a game’s momentum remains unmatched. His impact continues to linger, with young players still naming him as their inspiration for picking up a stick. He says he always embraced entertaining the crowd, blending fierce competition with a showman’s flair to make every game unforgettable.
His leadership and compete level were undeniable, rooted in an unrelenting will to win while always pushing his teammates to match his intensity. He says it took him a while to learn how to win the right way, through years of tough losses.
Although he will go down in history as one of the greatest goal scorers and most loyal teammates the sport has ever seen, it was his connection with fans that often stood out the most. He had the ability to bring the Peterborough Memorial Centre crowd to their feet every time he stepped on the floor. He admits it wasn’t always that way though, reflecting on the early days of his MSL career when the team hardly had any fans at their games.
Now coaching his son and daughters, Evans is instilling the values that shaped his Hall of Fame career and passing them on to the next generation. He says one of the key messages he instills is the importance of showing up for teammates, a principle that built championship teams and continues to guide his coaching.
Scott Evans’ induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame crowns a career that ignited arenas and elevated the sport. His prolific scoring, fearless leadership and relentless devotion to team and town carved out a legacy that will burn bright in Peterborough’s rinks for generations.
But this honour is not just about the numbers or the championships. It is about the way he made fans believe, how he pulled teammates into the fight, and how he showed that one player’s heart can lift an entire city. He didn’t just play the game, he gave himself to it.
And now, long after the final buzzer, his name continues to echo through the city that raised him, the arena that cheered for him and the game that will always remember him.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
