By Nashville Spartans Staff
The Nashville Spartans are proud to announce that Evan Stirling (’03/Calgary, Alb.) has made his NCAA commitment to the State University of New York at Canton, aka SUNY-Canton. The Roos will make their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) debut in 2024-25 after many years as an independent NCAA team. The Spartans’ media staff sat down with Stirling recently to get his thoughts on the commitment.
1) When did you first start talking with SUNY Canton about a possible commitment there? What did the school’s coaches like about your game?
- I started talking with SUNY-Canton when I was playing for the [NCDC’s] Idaho Falls Spud Kings in Idaho Falls. They liked my size a lot but also how I could move for my size. They liked how I made first passes and didn’t freak out in tight situations and how I had patience with the puck. They also liked my intensity and how I wasn’t scared to hit people and show some emotion.
2) What interested you the most at first about SUNY-Canton, on both the hockey and academic sides?
- What stood out to me was the location. Being located in New York, it’s always a cool thing when you get the opportunity to play in places like that, especially being Canadian. Hockey-wise it was definitely the facility and new rink. It’s a beautiful place to play hockey and the atmosphere is perfect.
3) If you were able to visit the campus, what did you think about the campus and school atmosphere, and what made you decide to make the commitment official?
- I was not able to visit the campus.
4) What do you plan on majoring in at SUNY Canton, or at least what are your educational interests going in?
- Business and Sports Management.
5) What are your overall thoughts about the Nashville Spartans as an organization? What made you decide to sign there this season?
- The Nashville Spartans organization is all about brotherhood and the bond you can really make with teammates. The 2023-24 team was the closest team I have ever been on and I can confidently say I made lifelong friendships with every single guy in that room including my coaching staff. My decision to be traded to Nashville was extremely easy as I was on the phone with Coach [Liam] Tully and Owner, Zach Sabatini within minutes of being traded to another NCDC team. I knew I wanted to play in Nashville as soon as I got off the phone with them.
7) Having played in the USPHL Premier, what do you think about the league and how the USPHL helped put you in a position to be recruited into the NCAA?
- I think the travel and where teams are located had the biggest impact. Playing in those prime places such as Michigan and the showcase in Florida definitely brought the scouts to see us play because of how convenient the distance was from their college or university.
8) What parts of your game are you continuing to work on this off-season to be ready to be an impact player at SUNY-Canton next year?
- My first step out of escape moves so I can quickly start my attack and catch defenders off-guard and force them into thinking way harder than they need to.
