Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that the team has signed former University of Maine men’s ice hockey standout Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) to a one-year entry-level contract that will begin next season. Flynn will join the Rochester Americans for the remainder of the year on an amateur tryout.
Flynn recently completed an outstanding career with the Black Bears, serving as co-captain during this past season. He scored 18 goals and dished out 30 assists for 48 points during the 2011-2012 campaign. He had seven power play goals and four game-winners. He tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in Maine’s victory over New Hampshire at Fenway Park. He was named to the Hockey East First Team, in addition to being named a New England All-Star. He finished third in the voting for the Walter Brown Award, given annually to the top American-born college hockey player in New England.
Flynn saw action in 153 career games for the Black Bears, including playing in 152 consecutive contests. He missed one game in his collegiate career, the second game of his freshman season. Flynn scored 69 goals and added 87 assists for 156 career points. His 156 career points rank 11th on Maine’s all-time scoring list.
As a junior, Flynn earned the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, presented by Hockey East. As a sophomore, he set a school record with seven points in a game against UMass Lowell on five goals and two assists. His five goals tied a school mark.
Flynn is the third Black Bears to sign a professional contract following the the season. He joins classmates Will O’Neill (Winnipeg Jets) and Spencer Abbott (Toronto Maple Leafs).
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