Friday, February 21, 2014

Kerins commits to RIT

Press Release 

North York Rangers forward Liam Kerins has confirmed his commitment to join the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers beginning with the 2014-15 Atlantic Hockey season.

The native of Caledon East, Ontario joined the OJHL in 2011-12 as a 16-year old member of the Vaughan Vipers out of the Mississauga Rebels Midget 'AAA' program.  Kerins would tie for fifth on the club as a rookie with 14 goals, while also recording 21 points in 48 regular season games played.  He would receive his first taste of junior post-season action, notching a goal during a second round, seven game series loss to Toronto Lakeshore.  Following the season, the Vipers would suspend operations and Kerins joined the nearby North York Rangers, where he would spend the past two seasons.  Last year Kerins was a key member of one of the league's top offensive units, finish third on the club with 28 goals and 67 points in 52 games played, also ranked 16th and 11th among all OJHL scorers and would be named to the OJHL South Division All-Star Team that competed at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Wellington, Ontario.  He continued his offensive output in the playoffs, recording 17 points in 18 games as the Rangers upset the South-West Conference champion Buffalo Jr. Sabres before falling to South Division rival and eventual league champion St. Michael's. 

Kerins has not slowed down in 2013-14 and currently leads the Rangers in scoring with 37 goals and 74 points in 51 games played, to sit tied for second in the OJHL goal scoring race and fourth overall among all scorers.  He once again was named an All-Star, helping the South-West Conference All-Star Team finish as runner-up at the 2013 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Terrebonne, Quebec. 

“It feels great,” Kerins said, “I waited all year and I feel like I’ve been having a good last two months here. It really is a big weight off my shoulders though, and now I can just focus on helping bring a championship to North York and nothing else.”

Liam is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound winger that also plays the point on the power play and has been a dominant offensive force all season with a big shot and smooth hands.

“I really liked RIT when I visited,” he said, “their game is like an NHL game, the way they run their program is professional and the crowd is extremely passionate. They love their team there; their fans are great, it was important to me to go to a school that was well-embedded in its community.

“Now it’s just down to business at NYR.”

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

No comments: