By Jake Howorth, North York Rangers Communications and Digital Director. Image from OJHL Images
Former North York Ranger Austin Brimmer has officially committed to play DI hockey for Long Island University. He will play for the Sharks and attend the school in the Fall of 2021.
The Long Island Sharks are currently in their augural season in the NCAA. They team did not take long to grab headlines winning their first game in program history on opening night against Holy Cross. Brimmer decided to go with the new program for many reasons.
“I decided to accept LIU for many reasons. One being all the coaching staff are young, great and experienced who believe in a family culture and more importantly believe in my game and how well it will fit into their program,” Brimmer explained. “Another reason why I committed was because since it is a new program there is lots of opportunity for playing and establishing myself in division 1 hockey there. Long Island is also 30 minutes away from New York City and 40 minutes away from Long Island beach so it’s in a great location.”
The Markham, Ont., native joined the Rangers in the Fall of 2018 after a stellar season with the Toronto Nationals of the GTHL U18 AAA. He even played three games as an AP call up for the team during the 2017-2018 season. Brimmer earned the coaching staff’s trust right away playing on the penalty kill and chipping in offensively as well on a very stacked team that posted a franchise-high 40 wins. The former Windsor Spitfire pick recorded eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 52 regular-season games as a rookie. He took a step in the playoffs chipping in with 3 goals and 4 assists for seven points in 16 games. He did this while playing on the bottom six.
The following season, he truly made himself known in the Ontario Junior Hockey League as a dominant player at both ends of the ice. With more responsibility and more playing time, the 6’3 forward shinned recording a career-high 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 49 games in the regular season. He also made an impact off the ice, being named an assistant caption to help lead a very young Rangers squad throughout the season. In the playoffs, he was a part of a line that was responsible for shutting down the Toronto Junior Canadiens top line. The Rangers went on to upset the top-seeded Junior Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.
Brimmer knows the North York Rangers played a huge part in his development that led him to this DI commitment. The organization did not just help grow his game and skills, but the overall culture from day one allowed him to reach his potential.
“NYR has helped me as it was the first junior team I have played for and they showed me the ropes of how to be a junior hockey player,” he stated. “I was also surrounded by great coaches and teammates who preached great culture. NYR I was able to see the importance of family culture and play alongside teammates that will be my friends forever.
He spent two full seasons with the Rangers, and in that small time, fifth-year head coach Geoff Schomogyi saw his overall growth firsthand both on and off the ice.
“We are very excited and happy for Austin with his commitment to a Division 1 program. We have seen Austin develop into a good leader and great hockey player,” the coach stated. “His game has evolved so much. He has started to understand how to use his big body as assist and combine that with his great work ethic and skill sets he posses.”
Brimmer becomes the 31st Ranger to commit to either the NCAA or U SPORTS since 2016.
