Joe Finley

Joseph Scott Finley (born June 29, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played twenty-one games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders between 2011 and 2013. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2009 to 2018, was spent in the minor leagues and ended with three seasons with HIFK in the Finnish Liiga. Finley was selected by the Washington Capitals 27th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

For the American football coach, see Joe Jon Finley.
Joe Finley
Finley with the Iowa Wild in 2015
Born (1987-06-29) June 29, 1987
Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight 262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
New York Islanders
Montreal Canadiens
HIFK
NHL Draft 27th overall, 2005
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2009–2018

Playing career

Finley played for the Edina Peewee A state championship team in 1999–2000. Finley was a standout playing Minnesota High School hockey for the Edina Hornets. Due to Finley's strong play and leadership his freshman year, he made the White line the following year. In 2005, he said that making the White Line may well have been the greatest accomplishment of his hockey career. Finley missed the majority of the 2009–10 season on injured reserve when on November 21, 2009, in a game with the Stingrays against the Gwinnett Gladiators, he ruptured an artery in his hand which required surgery.[1]

On September 18, 2011, Finley accepted an invitation to training camp by the Buffalo Sabres. He impressed enough that he was signed to an AHL contract, and assigned to the Rochester Americans.[2] Through the first quarter of the season, Finley was impressive as one half of the Americans shut-down defensive pairing. He led the Amerks in +/- with a +10. The Sabres and Finley reached a three-year contract on November 28, 2011, that will allow Finley to be called up by Sabres organization.[3]

Two days after the deal was completed, Finley was called up by the Sabres where he made his NHL debut against the Red Wings on December 2, 2011. Finley was the 475th player to play in the NHL after starting his career in the ECHL.[4]

Prior to the lockout shortened 2012–13 NHL season, Finley was claimed off waivers from the Sabres by the New York Islanders on January 14, 2013.[5]

On July 29, 2014, Finley signed as a free agent to a one-year AHL contract with the Hamilton Bulldogs.[6] In the 2014–15 season, Finley appeared in 54 games with the Bulldogs, contributing with 3 assists and 132 penalty minutes.

On October 8, 2015, Finley continued in the AHL, signing a one-year AHL deal with the Iowa Wild, an affiliate to the Minnesota Wild.[7] In the 2015–16 season, Finley appeared in 56 games with Iowa, recording a professional high of 5 goals from the blueline.

On June 21, 2016, Finley opted to pursue a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year deal with Finnish club, HIFK, of the Liiga.[8] Before Finley had arrived to Helsinki in 2016 he already got a nickname, "The Red #3" after Lalli Partinen, a former defenseman who played for HIFK in 1969–1977.

On February 3, 2017, HIFK announced a two-year contract extension with Finley.[9]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2003–04 Edina High School HS-MN ————— —————
2004–05 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 5531013181 —————
2005–06 University of North Dakota WCHA 4303396 —————
2006–07 University of North Dakota WCHA 4116772 —————
2007–08 University of North Dakota WCHA 434111579 —————
2008–09 University of North Dakota WCHA 27281056 —————
2008–09 Hershey Bears AHL 10007 —————
2009–10 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 1713443 —————
2010–11 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 2617873 400010
2010–11 Hershey Bears AHL 701115 —————
2011–12 Rochester Americans AHL 57156143 30000
2011–12 Buffalo Sabres NHL 500012 —————
2012–13 Rochester Americans AHL 3614581 —————
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 1601120 —————
2013–14 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 2902250 —————
2014–15 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 54033132 —————
2015–16 Iowa Wild AHL 5651692 —————
2016–17 HIFK Liiga 46358142 1402255
2017–18 HIFK Liiga 90006 100025
2018–19 HIFK Liiga 1900030 —————
NHL totals 2101132 —————
Liiga totals 74358178 1502280

References
  1. Curiosity surrounds Finley in debut – Sabres & NHL – The Buffalo News
  2. "Finley out to prove himself in Hershey". American Hockey League. 2010-10-30. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  3. "Amerks surprise Finley gets NHL deal from Sabres – Sabres Edge – The Buffalo News". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  4. Peter Paul and Mirko Vasic (December 3, 2011). "Finley becomes 475th ECHL player to join NHL" (Press release). ECHL.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  5. "Islanders claim Finley off waviers from Sabres". National Hockey League. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  6. "Bulldogs sign Joe Finley to one-year AHL contract". Hamilton Bulldogs. 2014-07-29. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  7. "Iowa signs Finley and Eberle to AHL contracts". Iowa Wild. 2015-10-08. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  8. "HIFK reach agreement with defenseman Joe Finley" (in Finnish). HIFK. 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  9. "Uutiset › TIEDOTE: IFK JA JOE FINLEY JATKOSOPIMUKSEEN – HIFK". Hifk (in Finnish). Retrieved 2017-05-13.
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