INCH A to Z: Dartmouth's Evan Stephens

The following article featuring Dartmouth defenseman Evan Stephens appeared September 3 on the InsideCollegeHockey.com Web site as part College Hockey A to Z.

You can't learn how to spell before you've mastered your A-B-Cs. Turns out that's the best way to preview the college hockey season as well. For the fifth year in a row we present Inside College Hockey A to Z, an alphabetical look at a player you need to know from all 58 colleges in Division I.

When contestants start the final round on the Wheel of Fortune game show, the letters R, S, and T are automatically presented in helping them be able to figure out the mystery word. Those letters comprise the most commonly-used part of the alphabet, but our profiled players today are anything but common. We'll start with Lake Superior State's Rick Schofield, who led his team in plus/minus as a rookie, and then turn back to the Ivy League, where Dartmouth has a high-scoring defensemen as its leading returning scorer, and Brown has tabbed a junior captain to lead it in the upcoming campaign.

EVAN STEPHENS
Dartmouth
So. | D | Bessemer, Mich.

Key Statistics: Stephens was one of the most prolific scoring defensemen in ECAC Hockey with five goals and 17 assists for 22 points. He ranked third overall on Dartmouth in scoring as a freshman, only behind NHL-bound forwards Nick Johnson and J.T. Wyman.

What He Does: Stephens fits the mold of an offensive defenseman. He's got great hands, is a strong skater, and is willing to take chances. Many times those offensive-minded decisions yield results for the Big Green. There are times when the decision-making process might cause headaches for the coaching staff and goaltender, but the risk is worth the reward.

The Bigger Picture: Experience leads to recognition of the balance between offense and defense, and when a group of defensemen grows together it can only bring a bright future. Of the five defensemen at Dartmouth that played the most games last year, four were freshmen. The other was a sophomore.

Dartmouth's coaching staff on Stephens: "Evan is very smart in terms of his play both offensively and defensively. He makes great passes coming out of his own zone and is a great skater."

- Joe Gladziszewski

Complete article can be accessed via the INCH Web site by clicking here.