Jeff Finger
Born (1979-12-18) December 18, 1979
Houghton, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Colorado Avalanche
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 240th overall, 1999
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2003–2012

Jeffrey John Finger (born December 18, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League from 2006-2010 with the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Finger holds regional records for most goals (17), assists (40), points (57) and games played (199) for NHL players born, in the modern era, within the Copper Country of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Only Clarence "Taffy" Abel, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, who played in the NHL from 1926-1934, has played more games (333) than Finger, or any other player born in the Upper Peninsula. Finger is often regarded as the best all-around ice hockey player to be born and raised in the region, and he was inducted into Michigan's Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.[1]

Background and Early Career

Finger attended Houghton High School in Houghton, Michigan. As a freshman, Finger was part of the 1994-95 Houghton High School Hockey Team that was the Michigan Class BCD State Runners-up.[2] As a sophomore, Finger played hockey in Marquette, Michigan for the 18U Midget AAA Marquette Electricians team during their 1995-96 season.[3] Finger returned to Houghton High School for his junior year to play hockey for the Houghton Gremlins during their 1996-97 season. During that season, The Houghton Gremlins' hockey team made an MHSAA Final Four appearance and were regional champions; winning the LSC High School Conference Championship, The Wishigan Cup Championship and The Hayward Invitational Championship. Finger received Michigan High School Athletic Association All-State Class B honors for his play during the 1996-97 season.[4] As a high school senior, Finger played the 1997-98 season for The Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, registering 14 points and 208 penalty minutes in 51 games played.[5]

Pre-NHL Playing Career

Finger continued to play for The Green Bay Gamblers during the 1998-99 season and received his first, of two, consecutive USHL All-Star Team selections.[6] Finger was drafted 240th overall (8th round) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. During the 1999-2000 season, while continuing to play junior hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, Finger was selected as the league's Defenseman of the Year, as his team won The Clark Cup Championship that season.[7][8][9] After playing 3 seasons with The Green Bay Gamblers, Finger attended St. Cloud State University of the WCHA to play on their hockey team in 2000.

Finger scored goals in each of his first two college games as a freshman for SCSU. Finger was named as WCHA Rookie of the Week on March 5, 2001. St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey team were the WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Champions in 2001. Finger received SCSU's Roland Vandell Award for Outstanding Freshman Hockey Player for the 2000-01 season due, in part, to being +12 on the plus/minus. Finger did not miss a game in each of his first two seasons at St. Cloud State University. Finger earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week Award on February 4, 2002. Finger set St. Cloud State University's All-time record for most penalty minutes in a season (105) in 2001-02.

After playing 3 seasons in The WCHA for St. Cloud State University, Finger completed his first pro season in 2003-04, splitting time between The Reading Royals of The ECHL and The Hershey Bears of The AHL. Finger recorded his first AHL point in his Hershey Bears debut on November 9, 2003 against The Norfolk Admirals. Finger recorded his first multi-point game in The AHL on November 22, 2003 against The Lowell Lock Monsters. Finger scored his first AHL goal on January 10, 2004 against The Albany River Rats.

Finger played the 2004-05 season with The Hershey Bears, playing in 75 games, registering 16 points and 125 penalty minutes. Finger played for The Lowell Lock Monsters of The AHL for the 2005-06 season, playing in 70 games, registering 23 points and 116 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, Finger was named as one of the Assistant Captains of The Albany River Rats of The American Hockey League before being called up to play for The Colorado Avalanche of The National Hockey League.

NHL Playing Career

Finger played in the final 22 games of the 2006–07 season with the Avalanche. He made his NHL debut on February 20, 2007 against the Calgary Flames and recorded his first NHL point when he assisted on a Paul Stastny goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 27. On March 1 he scored his first NHL goal against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Chicago Blackhawks in a 6-1 rout.[10] Finger finished the season with one goal and four assists with 11 penalty minutes and a +10 plus/minus that tied Milan Hejduk for second on the team, trailing only team leader Ken Klee with a +18.[11]

On May 23, 2007, the Avalanche re-signed Finger to a one-year contract for the 2007–08 season.[12] In his first full season with the Avalanche, Finger emerged as a formidable defenseman and played in a career-high 72 games, scoring 8 goals.

On July 1, 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Finger to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million per season.[13] During the 2008 pre-season, Finger's foot was broken due to being hit by a shot from teammate Nikolai Kulemin. The injury caused Finger to miss the remainder of the pre-season and the first month of the regular season.[14] Finger finished the 2008-09 season with a career high 23 points in 66 games.

A strained relationship with Leafs' coach Ron Wilson and the signings of defensemen Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin caused Finger to see limited playing time (39 games) during the 2009-10 season.[15] Finger played his final NHL game on April 7, 2010 against The New York Rangers. After two seasons with The Toronto Maple Leafs, due to a knee injury during training camp and salary cap restrictions, Finger was placed on waivers on October 12, 2010 and sent down to the Leafs' AHL affiliate the following day.[16]

Post-NHL Playing Career

Finger was assigned to The Toronto Marlies of The American Hockey League for the 2010-11 season. However, Finger only played in 23 games for The Marlies during the 2010-11 season due to requiring hip surgery.[17] After rehabilitation, Finger rejoined The Toronto Marlies for the 2011-12 season. Finger played in 31 games for The Toronto Marlies during the 2011-12 season before sustaining a career ending concussion during a game in St. John's.[18]

Coaching career

Finger was an assistant coach for The Finlandia University Lions Men's Ice Hockey Team of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association for the 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 51 5 9 14 208 4 0 0 0 18
1998–99 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 55 11 28 39 199 6 0 3 3 14
1999–00 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 55 13 35 48 154 14 3 11 14 40
2000–01 St. Cloud State WCHA 41 4 5 9 84 — — — — —
2001–02 St. Cloud State WCHA 42 6 20 26 105 — — — — —
2002–03 St. Cloud State WCHA 24 5 8 13 46 — — — — —
2003–04 Reading Royals ECHL 10 2 5 7 24 — — — — —
2003–04 Hershey Bears AHL 63 2 9 11 88 — — — — —
2004–05 Hershey Bears AHL 75 4 11 15 125 — — — — —
2005–06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 70 3 20 23 116 — — — — —
2006–07 Albany River Rats AHL 44 3 10 13 65 5 1 1 2 4
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche NHL 22 1 4 5 11 — — — — —
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 72 8 11 19 40 5 0 2 2 4
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 66 6 17 23 43 — — — — —
2009–10 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 39 2 8 10 20 — — — — —
2010–11 Toronto Marlies AHL 23 0 5 5 8 — — — — —
2011–12 Toronto Marlies AHL 31 3 7 10 44 — — — — —
NHL totals 199 17 40 57 114 5 0 2 2 4

Awards and honors

References

  1. ↑ "Jeff Finger - Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame". Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  2. ↑ "Houghton". Michigan High School Hockey Club. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  3. ↑ Caples, Michael (2015-07-24). "Marquette Electricians are ceasing operations". MIHockey.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  4. ↑ "Houghton Hockey Teams". Copper Country Hockey History. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  5. ↑ "The Internet Hockey Database". hockeydb.com. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  6. ↑ "Jeff Finger - Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame". Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  7. ↑ "Jeff Finger Elite Prospects". Elite Hockey Prospects. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  8. ↑ "Progaurd USHL Defensman of the Year". USHL. 2010-05-10. Archived from the original on 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  9. ↑ "Clark Cup - USHL". USHL.com. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  10. ↑ "Avalanche 6, Blackhawks 1". CBS Sports. 2007-03-01. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  11. ↑ "Finger proving he belongs". Rocky Mountain News. 2007-03-27. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  12. ↑ "Avalanche re-sign Leopold, 3 others". CBC. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  13. ↑ "Maple Leafs sign Hagman, Finger and Joseph". TSN. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  14. ↑ Mirtle, James (2020-05-22). "Jeff Finger's dream was to play for the Maple Leafs then it almost broke him". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  15. ↑ Mirtle, James (2020-05-22). "Jeff Finger's dream was to play for the Maple Leafs then it almost broke him". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  16. ↑ "Les Leafs placent Jeff Finger au ballotage". La Presse. Cyberpresse. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  17. ↑ Mirtle, James (2020-05-22). "Jeff Finger's Dream was to play for the Maple Leafs. Then it almost broke him". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  18. ↑ Mirlte, James (2020-05-22). "Jeff Finger's dream was to play for the Maple Leafs. Then it almost broke him". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
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