SANBORN — Dave Evert always admired guys like Nick Melligan and Kevin Ogiba. Even Nick Burns. They’re all gone now.

It was time for new blood. Time for Dave Evert to step up. And has he ever.

The Niagara-Wheatfield senior forward leads the Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation large schools with 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists. He’s also helped the Falcons remain in the thick of it for a division title.

“Without Burnsy this year I wasn’t quite sure, but so far Dave has done everything right,” Falcons coach Rick Wrazin said. “What’s not to like about him? He anticipates better than anyone in this league.”

A modest Evert said the biggest reason for his success is his chemistry with linemates Nick LoTempio and Mike Hardy. The trio play together on the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 18-and-under travel team in the offseason. They’ve also been united on several other teams throughout the years, Evert said.

“When you play almost your whole life with certain guys, you play pretty good together,” said Evert, a Bowman Cup participant a year ago.

Wrazin has noticed, too, as LoTempio has shot up to second in the league in scoring and Hardy has developed into one of the better passers in Fed ranks. Evert, though, is the one that so often buries the puck in the back of the net.

“LoTempio and Hardy do everything they can to get him the puck in the right spot and it’s not very often that he misses,” the coach said of his sniper.

Evert added, “I usually get about 10 shots a game because of those guys, so I better put in at least one.”

Thus far Evert and Co. have done that enough to consider themselves a contender for a return trip to the state tournament. N-W’s power play is one of the best in the area and it’s goaltending has taken big steps since Vinny Merante took over on a full-time basis.

The one area where Wrazin and Evert agree the Falcons need work is in even-strength scenarios. They must be able to generate offense in those situations if they want to be considered an elite team again this season.

“We have the players and we definitely want to do it again,” Evert said. “But it comes down to hard work and putting the puck in the net as much as possible.”

Evert, who is an all-Western New York-caliber lacrosse player, said he plans to attend and play hockey Elmira College next year. The Soaring Eagles are perennially one of the stronger Division III teams in the country. He plans to major in criminal justice.