Fort St. John’s Evan Gardner nominated for WHL Humanitarian of the Year award

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  Evan Gardner’s diabetes advocacy has been recognized for the second consecutive year by the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The Fort St. John goaltending prospect has been nominated for the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year award for 2024-25, according to a release from his club, the Saskatoon Blades.

The nomination stems from his work with Diabetes Canada.

A type one diabetic, Gardner shared the story of his diagnosis and helped promote the Blades’ PokeCheck Learns: Diabetes Awareness game in November versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

During the game, Gardner wore a custom-made diabetes goaltending mask. He then auctioned off the equipment with the proceeds benefiting Diabetes Canada. 

A total of $4,650 was raised from the auction went toward Camp Kornder, a camp in Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan.

The camp is for children with type one diabetes and was founded in the 1950s. 

Also known as juvenile diabetes, type one diabetes is an immune disease where the body does not produce insulin inside the pancreas, requiring injections of the hormone for life. 

Gardner answered questions about the disease in a video promoting the event, which was uploaded to the team’s Facebook page.

“It’s tough to manage,” said Gardner. “I try to make it out like it’s good all the time, but it’s a struggle sometimes and that’s okay.

“[For all the kids out there], you got this. Don’t let [diabetes] hold you back from anything you want to do in life, especially sports.”

Gardner was diagnosed when he was just 11 years old during a trip to a summer baseball camp in Kelowna.

The 19-year-old Gardner has had a busy calendar year. In addition to being nominated for the award, he was also drafted in the second round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He signed a three-year entry-level deal with the team last month.

Winners of the 2025 WHL awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 22nd to Wednesday, May 7th.