Bobby Brink

Bobby Orr Brink (born July 8, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey right wing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers selected him in the second round, with the 34th overall pick, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Born in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Brink spent two years with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), winning Forward of the Year in 2019. He entered college a year early, playing three seasons with the Denver Pioneers. In 2022, Brink won a national championship with the Pioneers and was named the NCHC Player of the Year. He made his professional debut that year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL). After spending another season with the Phantoms, Brink joined the Flyers' opening night roster in 2023.

Early life

Bobby Orr Brink was born July 8, 2001, in Minnetonka, Minnesota, to Andy and Holly Brink. His father, a former college ice hockey player for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was a minor ice hockey coach in Minnesota, and as a child, Brink would accompany his father to the ice rink. There, he had the opportunity to skate with his father's students, including future National Hockey League (NHL) player Mike Reilly. In addition to ice hockey, Brink also played lacrosse and golf during his adolescence. Brink joined the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2017–18 season, recording four points in 13 games. The following season, which saw him miss several games with a fractured foot, Brink recorded 35 goals and 68 points in 43 junior ice hockey games for Sioux City. He was awarded the 2019 USHL Forward of the Year for his performance and was named to the league's first all-star team.

Playing career

College

After two seasons with the Musketeers, Brink entered college a year early, joining the Denver Pioneers for the 2019–20 season. He recorded his first collegiate goal in his Pioneers debut, a 4–3 win over the Alaska Nanooks on October 5. During his freshman season, Brink received National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Rookie of the Month honors twice: in October, for recording six points in as many games; and in January, when he led all conference rookies with nine points in eight games. Brink missed time at the end of the season with two separate injuries: a strained medial collateral ligament and a cut on his ankle from a skate blade. He finished his rookie season with 11 goals and 24 points in 28 games, and he was unanimously selected to the NCHC All-Rookie Team at forward.

With his freshman season unexpectedly interrupted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ice hockey and other athletics, Brink spent the 2020 offseason practicing his skating at a local rink. He worked closely with professional figure skater Kathleen Gazich to improve his skating mechanics in preparation for the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season. That year, Brink was limited to 15 of a possible 24 games due to injury, COVID, and his participation in an international tournament. When he did play, he struggled to score, recording only two goals and 11 points on a Pioneers team that failed to qualify for the 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.

Going into the 2021–22 season, Brink was named an alternate captain of the Pioneers, serving behind captain Cole Guttman. By January 13, Brink had set career highs with 19 assists and 26 points, and he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's college ice hockey player of the year. After a month during which he recorded 15 points in eight games, Brink was named both the NCHC and National Player of the Month for February. Brink finished his junior season with 14 goals and 57 points in 41 games, becoming Denver's first NCAA Scoring Champion since Ed Beers in 1982. In addition to being named the NCHC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, Brink was unanimously selected to the 2022 All-NCHC First Team and was recognized as an AHCA First Team All-American. He was a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, finishing behind Dryden McKay. Brink concluded his college ice hockey career as a 2022 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament champion, as Denver defeated the Minnesota State Mavericks by a 5–1 final score. In three seasons with the Pioneers, Brink recorded 27 goals and 92 points in 84 games.

Professional

The Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Brink in the second round, 34th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft. On April 10, 2022, the day after winning a national championship with Denver, Brink signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flyers. He joined the team immediately, making his NHL debut on April 12 against the Washington Capitals. Brink recorded his first professional point in his debut, assisting on James van Riemsdyk's third-period goal during the 9–2 loss. Appearing in 10 games to close out the 2021–22 season, Brink assisted on four goals for the Flyers.

While training in preparation for the 2022–23 season, Brink tore his left acetabular labrum, requiring surgery and sidelining him for the start of the year. He returned to play on January 3 and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Philadelphia's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, to continue his adjustment to professional hockey. It was difficult for Brink to build stamina and return to his pre-injury form during his time with the Phantoms. Coach Ian Laperrière praised Brink's "hockey IQ and the skills that he's got", which allowed him to navigate his subdued physical capabilities. Brink spent the entire season in Lehigh Valley, as the Flyers did not want to disrupt his progress, and finished the regular season with 12 goals and 28 points in 41 AHL games. Brink also appeared in three playoff games with the Phantoms, recording one assist in the process.

Considered unlikely to begin the 2023–24 season in the NHL, Brink impressed the Flyers during the preseason and was named to the opening-night roster. He scored his first two NHL goals on October 26, during Philadelphia's 6–2 win over the Minnesota Wild. After starting the season with six goals and 17 points through 29 games, Brink's quality of play declined by mid-January. On January 22, following a seven-game pointless streak and three healthy scratches in a row, Brink was demoted to Lehigh Valley to continue his development. After 11 games with the Phantoms, during which he posted six goals and 11 points, Brink returned to the Flyers on February 27. After putting up 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games for the Flyers, Brink was sent to Lehigh again on April 17, this time to push the Phantoms towards the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. He scored in the Phantoms' regular-season finale, a 3–0 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders to clinch a playoff position, and added four assists in six postseason games.

Prior to the 2024–25 season, the Flyers signed Brink to a two-year, $3 million contract extension. Building on his previous season, Brink told reporters that he wanted to increase his confidence and consistency as a two-way player the coming year. By December, Brink had found success on a line with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, as the trio scored a combined 25 points in their first 15 games together. By the end of February, Brink had played more minutes with Cates and Foerster than any other forward line combination on the Flyers. He attributed the trio's success to their predictability, as he could anticipate how his teammates would react during plays. By March, Brink had earned Tortorella's trust and received time on both the power play and penalty kill units. Tortorella particularly praised Brink's improved checking, which had been a point of contention the year prior. Brink finished the season with 12 goals and a career-high 41 points in 79 games, and he received the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the most improved Flyer of the season.

International play

Brink made his international debut with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. After fracturing his ankle blocking a shot during the semifinal round, Brink scored in the championship, a 2–0 win over Team Russia, to take his team to a gold medal. Brink's eight points were tied for the tournament lead, and he received both MVP and All-Star Team honors. The following year, Brink joined Team USA again for the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships in Sweden. He recorded three goals and six points in five tournament games, including a goal in Team USA's bronze-medal victory over Team Canada.

Brink joined the United States men's national junior ice hockey team for the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic. There, he posted one goal and one assist in five games as Team USA failed to medal, losing 1–0 to Team Finland in the quarterfinals. Brink returned to the team the following year for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Canada. There, he recorded two goals and six points in seven games en route to a gold medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brink, Bobby
2001 births
Living people
AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Ice hockey players from Minnesota
Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey players
Lehigh Valley Phantoms players
Sportspeople from Minnetonka, Minnesota
Ice hockey people from Hennepin County, Minnesota
NCAA men's ice hockey national champions
Philadelphia Flyers draft picks
Philadelphia Flyers players
Sioux City Musketeers players
USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
21st-century American sportsmen