The Central York Panthers would like to congratulate our 2022-23 Jr
Panther Ava Flint on her commitment to the NCAA Liberty University women's
hockey program. Ava has been an integral part of the Junior Panther program for
the past three years. Ava leads by example with her determination and high
level of compete whenever she steps on the ice. Ava was a huge reason for the
success of the Jr Panthers over the past three years. We know how much effort
Ava put into getting to this point and we couldn’t be happier for her!
(May 3, 2023 Aurora, Ontario) – The Central York Girls Hockey
Association are pleased to announce that their 2022-23 Jr Panther Ava Flint has
committed to play NCAA Women’s Hockey for the Liberty University Lady Flames in
Lynchburg, Virginia for the upcoming season.
Ava was an integral part of the
Central York Panthers Junior team that had a breakout season in 2021-22 and
followed that up with another outstanding season this past year. Over the past
two seasons the Jr Panthers have accumulated a record of 75-33 with Ava playing
a big part in that. Ava is a dominant force every time she steps on the ice.
She allowed the Junior Panthers to play a very physical style of game and that
style allowed Liberty to see what a great fit Ava would be at the university
level. Ava combined her physical style with a drive and determination on the
ice that made her very hard to contain. Ava was the missing piece for the
2020-21 team. The Jr Panthers were looking to be a tougher team to play against
and Ava gave them that element. She took off from there and became an elite
level player by the time the 2022-23 season rolled around. Ava used her
relentless commitment to development to improve her shot, hands, and skating to
take her from U18AA level hockey to being a standout on one of the best teams
in the OWHL U22 Elite league.
“Playing Junior hockey with the Central York Panthers over the past 3
years has taught me a lot. But I am most
proud of how I have learned to persevere! My teammates and coaches have helped
me become a much stronger person mentally. Hold your head high, work hard,
enjoy every minute, be a good teammate and you will find success! The decision
I made to come to Central York was the best decision I could have ever made. I
will be forever grateful for being a part of this program and meeting the
people that I have met, as they are not just my friends they are family. Coach
Steve’s dedication to this program, along with the other coaches, and the
expectations that he has of all of us, have instilled such an incredible work
ethic in us. Holding us to a high standard each day has really helped us
achieve our recent successes and have really helped to shape me into the player
that I am today”, Ava Flint announced in a statement.
In 2020 the Junior program made a significant effort to build a team
first culture that would appeal to other like-minded individuals and Ava was a
key piece in that effort. Ava combines a hard working attitude with a very
inclusive personality. Her commitment to the program was undeniable as she
combined her strong on ice play with a commitment to developing and
implementing team core values that would set the stage for future years to
come.
Chris Lowes, Head Coach of the Liberty University Lady Flames, is very
excited about this signing. “Ava is a strong skater who plays with grit and
intensity on the ice. She can play at center or the wing and fits with our
on-ice identity that includes speed, playmaking, and defensive responsibility”,
commented Coach Lowes.
Central York’s U22AA(Jr) Head Coach Steve Dempsey is very excited about
this commitment. “Ava was a diamond in the rough. A scout alerted me about Ava
and after watching her for one game I knew that she would be a great piece for
our program. Ava helped to transform our program with her determination on the
ice and her team first attitude in the room. She has really blossomed in the
past two years and has a ton of confidence right now. Her play really took off
last year and I really like the pathway that she is on. There is no doubt that
Ava is a great player but it is her compete level that will be missed the most.
When Ava decides to achieve a goal no one can stop her. Seeing her achieve this
goal of getting to play university hockey is very rewarding for me. I am really
happy for her but will miss her a lot.”
Ava is scheduled to start the 2023-24 season at Liberty University in
September 2023.
