University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Round Out 2019-20 Freshmen Class
7/24/2019 3:23:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
HUSKIES ROUND OUT INCOMING CLASS
STORRS, Conn. – UConn head coach Mike Cavanaugh announced the addition of four student-athletes to round out this year's incoming freshmen class. Coach Cavanaugh and his coaching staff welcome the addition of goaltender Ryan Keane (Lewisville, Texas) along with three defensemen in Jacob Flynn (Bridgewater, Mass.), Yan Kuznetsov (Murmansk, Russia) and Harrison Rees (Oakville, Ontario) to round out this coming season's recruiting class.
Jacob Flynn, Defenseman - Bridgewater, Mass./Thayer Academy (USHS-Prep)
The 5-foot-10 defenseman from Bridgewater, Mass., concluded his high school career in 2018-19 at Thayer Academy. Flynn was Thayer's top-defenseman this past season, finishing with a career-high seven goals and 23 points in 28 games as his team finished 13-10-4 in the ISL. He finished his senior season by earning ISL all-league honors. During his junior season, he posted three goals and 12 assists in 30 games. During his four years at Thayer, Flynn appeared in 119 career games with 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points.
Ryan Keane, Goaltender - Lewisville, Texas/Jamestown Rebels (NAHL)
The 5-9 goaltender from Lewisville, Texas spent the past two seasons in the NAHL. Keane played in 36 games with the Jamestown Rebels in 2018-19 and finished second in the league with a 1.81 goals against average. He posted a 23-10-0 record and had three shutout performances. He finished the year with a .927 save percentage. In 2017-18, Keane saw action in 33 games with the then Philadelphia Rebels and was 24-7-0 with a 1.90 goals against average and a .924 save percentage on his way to earning NAHL (East) Goaltender of the Year honors. He ranked second in the league in goals against average and had three shutouts on the way being named to the NAHL All-East Division team. Prior to his two seasons in the NAHL, Keane played nine games with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL in 2016-17.
Yan Kuznetsov, Defenseman - Murmansk, Russia/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
The 6-3 defenseman from Murmansk, Russia comes to Storrs after playing last season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede, the 2019 Clark Cup champions. Kuznetsov played in 34 games and had four assists. In international play In November, he helped lead Team Russia to its fourth gold medal in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick, Canada, a six-game showcase. In addition to earning a medal he was named to the WHC All-Star team. He also played for Russia's U16 team in 2017-18.
Harrison Rees, Defenseman - Oakville, Ontario/North York Rangers (OJHL)
The 6-2 defenseman from Oakville, Ontario has played the last two seasons with North York of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). In 2018-19, he helped lead the Rangers to the top of the OJHL South Division while putting up 44 points on six goals and 38 assists in 53 games. In 16 playoff games this past season, Rees scored six goals with seven assists and at the end of the season was named to the 2018-19 OJHL All-Star second team. In 2017-18, Rees had a 14 points season in 50 games, scoring three goals with 11 assists. He spent the 2016-17 season with The Hill Academy's U16 Prep team, playing in 12 games.
The foursome join previously announced incoming players Carter Berger (North Vancouver, British Columbia), Matej Blümel (Tabor, Czech Republic), Vladislav Firstov (Yarolavl, Russia) and Eric Linell (Great Neck, N.Y.) in rounding out this coming season's eight-player freshmen class. This year's class features three players taken in June's NHL Entry Draft in Firstov (Minnesota/2nd Rd/42nd), Blümel (Edmonton/4th Rd/100th) and Berger (Florida/4th Rd/106th).
