The 21 year old forward was recalled today and will play in his first NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bridgestone Arena.
The Nashville Predators have announced they have recalled forward Luke Evangelista from the Milwaukee Admirals.
Evangelista has played 49 games for the Milwaukee Admirals this season and currently leads the team in points and assists. This will be Evangelista's first career NHL game.
The Oakville, Ontario native was drafted by the Predators in the second round of the 2020 draft. The forty-second overall pick flourished in his 151 games in the OHL with the London Knights scoring 78 goals, 96 assists, and 174 points in his time there.
Evangelista's 2021-2022 season with the Knights was a blockbuster in which he recorded an OHL league high 55 goals and finished fourth overall in points.
Paige Martin, who served as the sideline reporter for the London Knights during Evangelista's time with the OHL team and is now a Digital Content Producer for the Edmonton Oilers speaks highly of what Evangelista could bring to the Predators franchise both on and off the ice.
"Luke's debut is exciting because he's someone who has always risen to the occasion, and that's where he thrives," Martin shared. "We saw it at the OHL level, we're seeing it this year with Milwaukee, and we'll get a glimpse of it tonight when he puts on a Preds jersey."
Impressive statistics aside, Martin also speaks highly of Evangelista as a teammate and person.
"I think what was really notable about Luke is how much people enjoyed having him as a captain in London. He saw the whole picture of junior hockey - the skill that it required to succeed but also the community element that drives so many junior hockey teams."
"People love their Knights in London," Martin continued, "And Luke never took that for granted. It showed in his leadership and that trickled down to his teammates. As quick as he was to be dialed in on the ice, he was just as quick to be smiling and celebrating his teammates out there, too."
Evangelista will join Milwaukee Admirals teammates Phil Tomasino, Juuso Pärssinen, Kiefer Sherwood, and Tommy Novak tonight in Nashville Predators jerseys as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bridgestone Arena. Predators fans are excited to get their first glimpse of Evangelista in the NHL and so is Paige Martin.
"The opportunity for him to play at this level is beneficial in every aspect - to the Predators lineup, Luke's development and drive, and the future that the fans get to look forward to."
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