NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Finger finding success in second season with Bruins By Matt Mackinder
J
eremy Finger has found that hockey in Minne- sota is much more visible than down in his home state of Florida. After all, there are TV commercials and nightly news highlights of the Austin Bruins, the team Finger is currently in his second North American Hockey League (NAHL) season with for his last year of junior hockey eligibility. “Weather-wise, there is also a little bit more snow
in Austin than back home,” laughed Finger, a 20-year- old forward and Orlando native. “That’s been a bit of a change, too. Here, everyone knows everything about hockey and back home, it’s just like that with football. So, there are differences between home and here, but also some similarities.” Last season, Finger played 43 games with the then-expansion Bruins and tallied seven goals and 12 points. This season, he’s pretty much on pace for those numbers again with six points through 22 games.
“I think this year is going a lot better than last
year,” Finger said. “We’re more competitive and we have a lot of veteran players. For me personally, it was easier coming in this year with the same coach, same billet, things like that. I’m a lot more comfort- able this year. We also have the same defense corps
back and that’s huge for this level.” Youth hockey in Orlando wasn’t what it is today when Finger was learning the game with the Orlando Stars and Florida Jr. Panthers organizations. He later moved to Kansas City to play Midget AAA hockey with Russell Stover and then back to Florida to play juniors with the Space Coast Hurricanes. “My Pee Wee coach, Bart Crashley, was a coach
who really pushed me and believed in me,” Finger remembered. “He helped me improve my game in so many ways and was really the first coach I had that felt I could go as far as I wanted in hockey. As for when I got started, my dad and uncle were always into hockey and so I played roller hockey. I liked it a lot and then got into ice hockey.” Two years ago, the NAHL came knocking. “I was at a camp for a team in another league and
guys from the Bruins were there and saw me and asked me to come to their camp,” explained Finger. “I went up to Austin and worked hard and here we are. It was a little bit of an adjustment my first few games last season. I was always used to being more of a scorer and here in Austin, I’m being taught how to throw my body (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and create space for the other players. It’s a role I’m happy with and I’ve gained a ton of respect for (Austin coach) Chris Tok.” Mirroring the goal of the majority of players that
NAHL.com
play in the NAHL, Finger is holding out hope that a Division I college hockey opportunity comes his way over the course of the season. “My main goal after winning a Robertson Cup championship is definitely to play D-I next year,” Finger said. “I know we have scouts at most of our games, but I don’t really think about it. I just go out and play my game and hope for the best. A couple of Division III schools have talked to me and it’s good to have options. I’m going to look at all the options I have at some point and decide what’s best for me. “I think if I just keep working hard and the team
keeps winning, the individual stuff will take care of itself.”
Orlando native Jeremy Finger is hoping a solid season with the NAHL’s Austin Bruins will lead him to a college hockey opportunity next year. Photo/NAHL
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