Evan Kirk Pays Tribute to His Idol
May 16, 2013 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
The name Chris Sanderson carries a lot of weight in the lacrosse community. The legendary goalie, who passed away last June after a long battle with brain cancer, was a Canadian lacrosse icon. The three-time All-World goalie was the backbone of Canada's National Team, leading his country to a gold medal at the 2006 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championships.
Last season, Hamilton paid tribute to its former goalie, and Team Canada dedicated its effort in the "Duel in Denver" to Sanderson. With No. 17 on their helmets and jerseys, Canada defeated the US 11-9 in a tune-up for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships.
The game was a lacrosse showcase, featuring some of the top names in college and professional lacrosse. It was also a chance for Canada to audition players for the games in Denver, especially in goal.
Enter Evan Kirk.
The 25-year-old stepped in-between the pipes and shut down an All-Star-laden US team. In one half of play, he made 13 saves and allowed only two goals. The game marked the return of Kirk to Team Canada after last appearing in the world championships in Manchester, when the team earned a silver medal.
"He was a terrific backup to Chris Sanderson. He got to play a lot of minutes in support of Chris during the tournament. Everybody who knew Evan knew what a good player he was, and I think what happened in the half at Denver was he got the chance to show exactly how good he was," said Director of Team Canada Dave Huntley, who also serves as the head coach of the Hamilton Nationals.
Kirk turned in another solid performance in late October, leading his club team to the Finals of the 22nd Annual Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational Tournament. The Dirty Lax team was comprised of elite players from the MLL and the National Lacrosse League. He played with current Nationals stars Cody Jamieson, Stephen Keogh, Kevin Crowley, Jeremy Thompson and MJ Kiekebelt.
It's no coincidence that after his performance, the Hamilton Nationals were interested in Kirk. At the urging of General Manager Stu Brown, Kirk entered the 2013 Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft. Hamilton used the eighth overall selection to take Kirk.
"Evan is a talented goalie and was a top recruit out of high school. I think he just had some bad luck in college and maybe didn't get the opportunity to reach his full potential," said Brown. "Evan showed everyone that he can play at an elite level during his performance between the pipes for Canada at the 'Duel in Denver.' We talked to Evan about playing for us this summer and he was 100 percent in; he wants to make a living in lacrosse."
Growing up in the box lacrosse hotbed of Orangeville, Ontario, Kirk first excelled at the indoor game. His idol was, of course, Chris Sanderson, and who could blame him. Sanderson led the Orangeville Northmen to two Minto Cup titles in the early '90s. Kirk himself was an accomplished goalie at the Junior "A" career level with Orangeville and then Kitchener-Waterloo. He used Sanderson as a mentor and was always excited when he saw him at the rink.
"Ever since I was a little kid I have looked up to him," said Kirk, who wore Sanderson's Junior "A" No. 42. "I always have that in the back of my mind, him being a role model. Every time I would see him in the summer, I would get the chance to talk to him, and he would give me tips."
Kirk has developed into a solid pro goalie, joining the Minnesota Swarm after being selected sixth overall in the 2011 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft. As a rookie, Kirk led the league in both goals-against average (9.81) and save percentage (.807) while earning NLL All-Rookie Team honors.
So with an extensive background in box lacrosse, how did Kirk get hooked on field lacrosse?
The answer again goes back to Chris Sanderson, a lacrosse giant in the field game. He starred for the University of Virginia from 1995-98, and led the Cavaliers to two NCAA Final Fours. He also was Team Canada's goalie in four consecutive World Lacrosse Championships. When Kirk was in high school, Sanderson led Canada to a gold medal victory in 2006 over the favored United States to give the Canadians their first World Championship in 28 years. His success at the collegiate and international levels led to the explosion of field lacrosse across Canada. Kirk was one of those kids who wanted to follow in Sanderson's footsteps into the NCAA and eventually to a national team.
Kirk was attracted to the field game because of players like Sanderson, but also Kyle Miller, Brodie Merrill, and his brothers Mike and Jamie. In 2008, Kirk traveled to Geneva, NY, where he played four seasons at Division I Hobart College. His best season was his final year. While serving as one of the Statesmen's captains, he posted a 5-7 record, a 10.83 goals-against average and 126 saves.
Just prior to his senior season, Kirk was named to Team Canada as he earned a spot as one of the team's goaltenders. Then just 22 years old, he was on a team filled with superstars in England. It was an adjustment for the soon-to-be senior at Hobart College, but it was Sanderson who taught the quiet and shy Kirk to enjoy the experience.
"It was chance to get to know those guys and what they were all about. I think the biggest thing with Chris was to just have fun," he said. "Everything was so serious going in there and I was pretty quiet because I didn't know a lot of the guys. I learned from him to have fun have and enjoy the experience."
This season with Minnesota, Kirk decided to pay tribute to Sanderson by detailing the left side of his goalie mask with two images of his idol. The bucket was raffled off to raise money for another Canadian lacrosse player who is battling cancer, Kyle Miller.
"He has done so much in and for the game of lacrosse, as well as influenced thousands to love the game," Kirk told ILGear.com of Sanderson. "Chris gave back and I feel that it's only fair to give back."
His greatest tribute to Sanderson, however, could come in 2014, if he wins the goaltending job with Team Canada. After the "Duel in Denver" performance, he realized that the road to Denver goes through Hamilton.
"That's my hope. That's always in the back of head," he said. "With the games in 2014, my goal is to get as much practice as I can the year before because I was out of the game. I was not playing field anymore and my habits were probably getting worse than usual. It will give me a year to not only get to know people, but to get my habits proper."
Kirk joins a goalie rotation that includes two-time MLL Champion Brett Queener and solid stopper Brent Herbst. Queener, who enters his fifth season with the Nats and sixth in the MLL in 2013, is the projected starter with the trade of Scott Rodgers to New York in the offseason. Kirk, however, will add a unique skillset to the Nationals as one of only a handful of players who have excelled in goal in both field and indoor lacrosse.
"Very few goalies have been really good at both," said Huntley, referring to Sanderson, Sal LoCascio, Ted Sawicki and Bob Flintoff. "Evan is in pretty elite company. It is really rare."
Merrill agreed that Kirk could help the Nationals this season after playing against some of the top lacrosse players in the NLL the past two seasons.
"I definitely think he can help us. With Scott Rodgers moving on, it's a good opportunity for him. He had an interesting career at Hobart. Like a lot of goalies it's a timing thing and he was playing with some other good goalies. He has been a late bloomer," said Merrill. "I think playing in the NLL, seeing all the shots and getting the book on some of the shooters at that level with help him as well."
With Kirk adjusting to the MLL game this season, Hamilton could reap the benefits of the next great Canadian goalie.
"To see him in Denver, I don't want to say it surprised me, but it showed us the level he was playing at and what he was capable of," said Merrill. "It was nice to see, especially from a local guy who grew up idolizing Chris Sanderson and was heavily influenced by him."
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