Evan Cowley – The Next Ones: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Evan Cowley THW Close-Up:

Team: Wichita Falls Wildcats

Date of Birth: 7/31/1995

Place of Birth: Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Ht:  6’4″     Wt:  185 lbs

Catches: Left

Position: Goalie

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2013

Twitter: @ECtendy1

Other Rankings:

CSS (North American Goalies): 12

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Cowley Wildcats
Evan Cowley is following much the same path out of the NAHL that Anthony Stolarz did last year. (Troy Young – Wildcats Hockey)

This Year’s NAHL Darkhorse Goalie?

Last year, Anthony Stolarz made a rapid ascension up the NHL Draft Rankings and was eventually selected by the Philadelphia Flyers after having a strong season for the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. Much like Stolarz, Evan Cowley has emerged as a very interesting NAHL prospect, and his 2012-2013 hockey season with the Wichita Falls Wildcats showcased just why so many scouts have been intrigued by the goalie leading up to this year’s NHL Entry Draft.

In 50 games played for the Wildcats during the 2012-2013 NAHL season, Cowley registered a 2.90 GAA and a .900 Save Percentage. While one might be quick to dismiss Cowley’s statistics, the goalie’s body of work should not be glossed over as a result. For an individual that did not have the help or mentoring of a goalie coach until recent times, the progress and rise of Evan Cowley has been nothing short of spectacular.

Cowley might not have been on many scouts’ radar during the start of the 2012-2013 NAHL season, but an emergency replacement of Jared Rutledge in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game certainly helped put Cowley on the map. Even though Cowley stood out in the NAHL’s annual showcase at the beginning of the ’12-’13 hockey season, his efforts in the CCM/USA Game (15 of 17 shots stopped) illustrated that the NAHL had yet another big goalie to offer to the NHL for the summer of 2013.

Of course, Cowley will certainly need to fine tune some aspects of his game as he progresses further in his hockey career, but the goalie already has the assets and raw talent to succeed at the professional level. At 6’4″ and almost 200 lbs., Cowley has the size that will make him an attractive option to any team, but his size shouldn’t fool hockey fans as the goalie can make crisp movements on the ice and effectively employ the butterfly style. While size and efficiency of movements are key factors for a goalie, Cowley also has a very sound mental composition on and off the ice – a huge asset that has allowed the goalie to rebound and play through rough stretches. Even though the 2013 NHL Entry Draft will be somewhat stocked with goaltending talent, Evan Cowley should not be lost in the pack as the big netminder already has the necessary assets to make him a more-than-interesting prospect when the 2013 Draft rolls around.

Scout’s Honour:

“Cowley is obviously still a very raw-skilled 17-year-old athlete, but with plenty of size and decent athleticism, the potential for him to develop into a pro goalie is clearly there. Not only does Cowley have the “optimal” frame at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, but he’s just a rookie in the NAHL with a birth date of July 31, 1995. And despite going 0-1-1 with seven goals allowed on 63 shots (a .889 save percentage) during the showcase, Cowley displayed a lot of tasty traits for scouts to devour.”

– Justin Goldman, The Goalie Guild

“Another NAHL goaltender with great size and and emerging abilities. Since goaltenders traditionally are brought along slowly, he is on the radar as a long term developmental player.”

– Bill Placzek, Draftsite.com

“First up was Evan Cowley, a 6-4, 185-pound netminder from Colorado who is playing for Wichita Falls in the NAHL. Just like Anthony Stolarz a year ago, Cowley used the NAHL’s get-together in Blaine, MN, as a launching pad into the consciousness of the assembled scouting masses. Indeed, his performance in Minnesota was such an eye opener that it earned him a late invite to be one of the four netminders at the American Top Prospects Game. With his long, spidery frame and natural athleticism, Cowley could make a run up the draft boards similar to Stolarz.”

– Kyle Woodlief, via USA Today

Where He’ll End Up In June:

Cowley could end up being a mid-to-late round draft pick, but hockey fans shouldn’t be surprised to see him go as early as Anthony Stolarz did last year as the two goalies have taken quite the same route to the NHL Entry Draft.

Cowley Wildcats
Evan Cowley has the size and athleticism to be a starting NHL goaltender one day. (Troy Young – Wildcats Hockey)

Statistics:

Bio/Interviews:

Wildcats Goalie Cowley Drawing Interest From NHL Scouts by Zach Duncan

Interview with Evan Cowley by Alson Lee

Cowley Following in Stolarz Footsteps by Aaron Vickers

International Tournaments:

Evan Cowley has not appeared in any international tournaments.

NHL ETA:

3-5 Years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

Risk: 2.5/5 Reward: 3.5-4/5

NHL Potential:

Number one starting goalie.

Strengths:

  • Athleticism and reflexes
  • Diligent and well prepared
  • Solid mental makeup
  • Calm and collected demeanor
  • Size
  • Good puck tracking skills
  • Good movements and rebound control

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

  • Could fill out his frame a bit more

Fantasy Potential:

Goaltending: 8.5-9/10

NHL Comparable:

  1. Carey Price

Video:

*** THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph