Selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round (56th overall) of the virtual 2021 NHL Entry Draft, mobile defenseman Evan Nause recently completed his third season of major junior hockey with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, winning both the league championship and the Memorial Cup.
In his draft year, Nause produced four goals and 18 assists and appeared in all 32 of Quebec’s pandemic-shortened regular season games after joining the Remparts after he was selected fifth overall by the team in the 2020 QMJHL Draft.
Interestingly, he was chosen by the Val-d’Or Foreurs a year prior. Instead of joining the Foreurs, he decided to spend the 2019-20 season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, keeping his options open while sorting out his development path, eventually deciding to forego the chance at NCAA hockey and re-entered the draft he next time around.
Nause played in all six of Quebec’s 2021 postseason games and produced a goal and an assist as the Remparts swept the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the first round before bowing out in three straight games to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in round two.
During his second season in the “Q,” Nause suited up for 59 regular season games and put up eight goals and 46 points, which was tops among the team’s defensemen and seventh-best on the squad overall. He also finished with a plus-25 rating and 42 PIM.
The postseason saw Nause collect three assists and play in all 12 games as Quebec advanced to the semifinals before they were eliminated by the Shawinigan Cataractes, who went on to claim the President’s Cup.
Prior to the start of his third campaign with the Remparts, Nause signed an entry-level contract with the Panthers on July 15, 2022, participated in development camp, and was part of the main training camp roster for the first week before he was returned to Quebec on September 27.
Nause was limited to 40 regular season games due to an injury which sidelined him for six weeks. He scored five goals and added 24 assists to finish with 29 points. Although his points per game average dipped ever so slightly from the previous season (.78 to .73), he posted a robust plus-35 rating to go along with 40 penalty minutes.
In December, the now 20-year-old was invited to Team Canada’s selection camp for the 2023 World Junior Championship. While he was a late cut, he impressed observers with his all-around play.
During Quebec’s dominant 16-2 postseason run that culminated in a Gilles-Courteau Trophy, Nause matched the five goals he scored in the regular season and added four assists.
After thumping host Kamloops to open the KIA Memorial Cup, Quebec split with fellow league champions Seattle and Peterborough to advance straight to the final, where they made short work of the Thunderbirds by a 5-0 count.
Nause appeared in all four games and picked up assists in the 8-3 win over Kamloops and the 4-2 loss to Peterborough during round-robin play.
A composed and skilled skater, Nause is effective in all three zones and while he doesn’t flash, he ends up on the score sheet quite often, averaging .74 points per game over his three seasons in the “Q.” He should get a longer during training camp this season and instead of returning to Quebec, could find himself beginning his professional career for the Charlotte Checkers this fall.