The commitment announcement and photo shared by BGSU of Evola joining the NCAA program
The Bowling Green Falcons were in need of a goaltender, so they called on a former Mr. Hockey winner to step in between the pipes immediately.
Sam (Salvatore) Evola, a product of Detroit Country Day, signed with BGSU in late January, and immediately joined the Falcons’ roster.
The 2018 winner of the Mr. Hockey award - Michigan high school hockey’s Heisman Trophy - was playing for the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL when he got the call from Ty Eigner’s program in Ohio.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be able to go to BGSU right away,” Evola said in a press release from the Tomahawks. “It’s all thanks to my coaches, family and teammates for all their support. This truly wouldn’t be possible without them.”
Evola spent three seasons with Detroit Country Day, leading the Yellowjackets to back-to-back Division 3 state championships in 2018 and 2019.
The Yellowjackets’ state title victory in 2018 brought the school its first hockey championship since 1981.
Evola with his Mr. Hockey and top goaltender award in 2018
After his second state title, Evola joined the junior ranks, as he spent the majority of the 2019-2020 season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL - posting a 2.96 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 16 games.
Last year, he recorded an impressive 18-6-2 record with a 2.18 goals-against and .924 save percentage in his first NAHL experience with Johnston.
This year, he played to a 13-8-2 record, a 2.73 goals-against and .917 save percentage before getting the college call-up.
Evola is now seizing an opportunity created by an injury to BGSU goaltender Zack Rose, who suffered a season-ending hip injury.
"With the significant injury to Zack, we needed to quickly address our goaltending depth,” said BGSU head coach Ty Eigner in the team’s press release. “We knew Salvatore from his time in High School Hockey at Country Day in Michigan. Thankfully for us, Salvatore was very interested in the opportunity we had. He was having a very good year in Junior Hockey and will fit in nicely on our team."
