skip navigation

Ava Rinker Commits to UConn

By Chris Baer, 10/13/17, 5:00PM EDT

Share

WEST CHESTER, PA— The Philadelphia Jr Flyers are proud to announce the commitment of 19U Girls defenseman, Ava Rinker, to the UConn Huskies for the 2021-22 season.  The Huskies compete in the prestigious Hockey East, which includes Boston College, Boston University, Maine, UMass, UMass-Lowell, Merrimack, UNH, Northeastern, Providence, and Vermont.

Despite only being a freshman at Owen J. Roberts High School, Rinker is entering her 3rd season with the Jr Flyers top girls team.   Ava is a skilled two-way defenseman that can be relied upon in all situations and possesses a high hockey-IQ, as well as an excellent stride and shot release. 

Rinker has been on the radars of Division 1 colleges since middle school due to her high level of play against bigger and older competition.  Ultimately, Ava’s goal was to play in Hockey East and she decided that UConn was the right fit for her.  She loved the campus, team playing style, coaching staff, and academics.  Ava said she is excited that UConn is shifting towards a more aggressive system that will allow the defenseman to get up ice and push the pace of the play , which she says will suit her style of play.

Rinker’s connection to UConn dates back to 2010 when current UConn assistant coach, Casey Handrahan, noticed her at a OneHockey  Squirt tournament.  She has maintained a relationship with Casey through the years and feels that the UConn coaching staff is very committed to the program and to their players.  Rinker said the campus in general just “felt like a community.  And it felt like it could be my home for 4 years”.

Ava is the first NCAA Division 1 commit from the Philadelphia Jr Flyers Girls program.  She is extremely deserving of the opportunity and we wish her the best!