Brian Finley makes NHL debut

OHL graduate Brian Finley made his National Hockey League debut with the Nashville Predators on New Year’s Day. Finley, who spent four seasons in the OHL with the Barrie Colts and Brampton Battalion, replaced starter Tomas Vokoun with 6:41 remaining in the first period of a 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

The game completed Finley’s recovery from a severe groin injury that kept him out of action for the entire 2001-02 season. He started this season with the Toldeo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League and was promoted to Milwaukee in the AHL after six starts.

The 21-year-old native of Sault Ste. Marie, and the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, was 3-3-0 with a 2.84 goals against average in six AHL starts before his call up to Nashville.

Finley was the backup in the Predators’ game against the Ottawa Senators on Monday and was called upon to replace Vokoun, who allowed four goals on nine shots on Wednesday.

“You never expect to have your first action like that,” Finley told The Tennessean after the game. “But it’s nice to get in there. I didn’t really feel like myself out there, but you’ve got to start somewhere, and hopefully I’ll be better next time.”

Finley surrendered goals to Rob Blake and Peter Forsberg in the second period and Milan Hejduk in the third. He made 10 saves.

“I though I was very average and my nerves maybe got the better of me,” said Finley, who is looking forward to his first start in the NHL. “But that was a great experience playing against those guys because that team has a lot of star players.”

Finley compiled a 95-47-12 record in 167 OHL games, recording a 2.89 goals against average and eight shutouts. He was the MVP of the 2000 OHL Championship Series, backstopping the Colts to the OHL championship and was twice named Barrie’s Scholastic Player of the Year.

– Aaron Bell