# Luke Evangelista

Luke Evangelista (born February 21, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 42nd overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing career

Evangelista played as a youth with the Oakville Rangers in the SCTA before playing major junior hockey with London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected in the second round, 42nd overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators.
With the following 2020–21 OHL season firstly delayed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on November 9, 2020. With the resumption of professional hockey Evangelista joined the Predators AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and made his professional debut in registering 4 assists through 14 regular season games.
Evangelista returned to junior hockey for the 2021–22 season, captaining the Knights and leading the team in all offensive categories with a league leading 55 goals and 56 assists for 111 points in only 62 regular season games.
After participating in the 2022 Nashville Predators training camp, Evangelista was reassigned to begin the 2022–23 season with the Admirals. With his offensive game translating to the professional ranks, Evangelista immediately assumed a role on the Admirals top scoring line and was leading the team in scoring when selected to represent the team at the AHL All-Star Classic. On February 28, 2023, Evangelista received his first recall by the Predators and made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins that night in a 3–1 defeat. In the following games he recorded his first point, an assist on a goal to Matt Duchene, in a 2–1 victory over the Florida Panthers on March 3, 2023. In increasing his ice-time, Evangelista notched his first two goals of his career against the Vancouver Canucks in a 4–3 shootout defeat on March 7, 2023.

## Personal life

Luke is the son of Andrew and Margaret Evangelista and has two sisters, Maria and Sophia. He is second cousins to supermodel Linda Evangelista and Toronto Maple Leafs executive Brendan Shanahan.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league
| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2017–18 | Oakville Rangers | SCTA | 36 | 39 | 51 | 90 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | London Knights | OHL | 27 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | London Knights | OHL | 62 | 23 | 38 | 61 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | London Knights | OHL | 62 | 55 | 56 | 111 | 48 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 49 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 24 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 80 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 104 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2018 | Canada White | U17 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| OHL |||
| Second All-Star Team | 2018 |
| AHL |||
| All-Star Game | 2023 |