After helping the Wisconsin Badgers reach the NCAA Frozen Four this past spring, the first time that has happened since 2010, Quinn Finley made the decision to turn pro and signed a three-year entry level deal with the Islanders this past April. The feeling was that the 6 foot 179-pound left wing was going to join the Islanders’ AHL team in Bridgeport for the remainder of the season, but then came the shocking news that Finley would be undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
And with that came a long road to recovery for the 22-year-old Finley, a third-round pick (78th overall) by the Islanders in the 2022 NHL Draft.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Finley who has been wearing a red non-contact jersey at Islanders Rookie Camp. The hope is that he will soon be cleared for contact as Islanders Training Camp gets underway this week at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
“It feels great to finally to get back on the ice,” said Finley. “It’s been a little while. Playing through injury last year and going all the way to the finals. I had a really good run there, but I’ve just been training back home.
During the off-season, Finley returned to the Wisconsin do get physical therapy on the shoulder and then went home to Green Bay to continue his rehab.
And now, he is waiting patiently to get cleared for contact.
“I’m getting close to the finish line and really looking forward to getting back,” said Finley.
Born in Valparaiso, Indiana, Finley moved to Arizona with his family when he was an infant and lived there for three years. Then, then Finley family moved to Suamico, Wisconsin where Quinn was raised and he would eventually embark on his hockey journey.
Finley was drafted first overall by the Madison Capitols in phase one of the 2020 USHL Draft and then began his junior hockey career with the Chicago Steel.
Then, it was off to Wisconsin where Finley enjoyed an outstanding three-year run. Over 73 games with the Badgers, Finley had 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 points including a junior season last year that saw him tally 17 goals to go along with 16 assists for 33 points in 37 games.
He will always cherish his time at Wisconsin.
“Unbelievable,” said Finley. “I can’t speak more highly of (Head Coach) Mike Hastings and the Wisconsin program. I really love Wisconsin and it’s got a deep place in my heart. I’ll always go back there. I love it.”
Once Finley is cleared, he is expected to be a part of the Hamilton Hammers, the Islanders’ new American Hockey League affiliate. He is part of a deep Islanders prospect pool that includes the likes of Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson, Cole Eiserman, and Daniil Prokhorov.
There is a commitment by the Islanders to getting younger and faster and Finley is looking forward to being part of it.
“I can’t wait,” said Finley. “I’m really excited to play with (Eklund) and guys like (Matthew) Schaefer who are really young. There’s a lot of us younger guys coming up and I think we’re just trying to do everything we can to help this organization out. The mindset of the team is young. We want to play fast with speed and skill and I’m really excited.”
It’s been a long road back for Quinn Finley after shoulder surgery. That road could soon come to a happy ending very soon at Islanders training camp once he is cleared for contact.
The hope is he will soon be cleared for contact as Islanders training camp gets underway this week.
The hope is he will soon be cleared for contact as Islanders training camp gets underway this week.
