Buitenhuis rejoins Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita Thunder announced that 2022 ECHL All-Star netminder Evan Buitenhuis has agreed to terms for the 2022-23 season.

Buitenhuis is coming off an outstanding season where he was named to the 2022 ECHL All-Star Classic. The Burlington, Ontario native was a workhorse for the Thunder, appearing in 31 games, which included a string of 16 consecutive starts to set a new club record. Buitenhuis went 11-15-4 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. 

The 29-year-old was leading the league in minutes played (1,336) and saves (723) before going overseas last February. Buitenhuis finished the season with Storhamar (Norway), where he went 4-2-0 in six starts with a 2.01 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. 

In 2020-21, he was named to the All-ECHL Second Team after leading the league in goals-against (2.29) and save percentage (.931). He finished with a 16-6-4 record in 27 combined games between Wichita, Utah and Florida.

Prior to turning pro, Buitenhuis played four seasons at Hamilton College. He went 37-17-12, sporting a 1.67 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. He was awarded the Jack B. Riffle Award in 2018 as the best male athlete in his graduating class.