Kurtis Evans, a former OHL player, tragically passed away at 23 years old after a battle with cancer.

Less than two months after Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau lost their lives in a terrible accident, another tragedy struck the hockey community. The OHL announced the passing of former North Bay Batallion player Kurtis Evans.

 
“The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by the passing of former North Bay Battalion forward Kurtis Evans, who died following a battle with cancer on October 3, 2024 at the young age of 23.

Evans, from Uxbridge, Ont., played for the Battalion from 2017-19 after being a third round pick by the club in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection from the Central Ontario Wolves AAA program.

Evans is remembered by friends and family, and leaves behind parents Brad and Holly and brother Jackson. The OHL sends heartfelt thoughts and condolences to all affected at this time.

The Evans family would appreciate donations to the Ewings Cancer Foundation of Canada as a tribute to Kurtis’ memory.”

We learned in his obituary that he died Saturday, surrounded by his family, after a battle against cancer. He seemed to have touched a lot of people during his life, which can be seen in the number of tributes online.

 
“He had an extraordinary gift for forming deep connections with people from all walks of life, remaining steadfastly dedicated to his friends and loved ones. A natural athlete, he thrived in various sports and had a deep passion for the outdoors, cherishing moments spent with family and friends, many of whom became like family themselves.”
Evans will be remembered in the hockey world for playing in the OHL between 2017 and 2019. He took part in 55 games with the team, and tallied four points in that time.

Dying at such a young age from illness is something we hope to never witness or experience. That reminds us that life is a gift, and we must make the best of it to honor those who left too soon.

We send our thoughts to everyone affected by this monumental loss.