Moose Jaw Warriors rookie Max Finley figured out a surefire way to get the invite from rookie to main camp during the first two days of the team’s Western Hockey League training camp this past week.
Just go out and lead the whole thing in scoring and pretty much force the team to take you along for the next step.
The Kelowna, B.C. native did just that this past week, scoring a goal in the morning scrimmage on Friday and picking up a pair in the afternoon contest to lead all rookies with three goals through three games.
And while Finley’s Team Grey won 5-0 in the early scrimmage Friday and lost 6-3 in the afternoon to Team Red, it was still a positive showing with plenty of progression.
“It was pretty good, we didn’t get a win today and that sucks but overall as the camp went on I felt I got better,” Finley said. “I tried my hardest and it went alright and I was able to get better each game, which is what you want to do in a camp like this.”
Of course, none of this was new to the Warriors’ second-round pick in the 2022 WHL Entry Draft, as he turned in a solid showing in his first outing in a Warriors uniform last season and even played in two exhibition games.
Finley suited up for the Okanagan Rockets in the B.C. U18 Elite Hockey League last season and had seven goals and 17 points in 31 games.
“Last year I was a little more nervous and I was one of the smaller guys, so that was a big difference,” Finley said. “This being my second year I’ve had a lot of confidence, so it’s nice to be able to be able to go out there and be a leader with these guys.”
It certainly doesn’t hurt to have a couple of guys who have been there and done that working alongside him all summer. Oldest brother Jack Finley is a signed Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and was a standout with the Winnipeg ice last season, while Mason Finley is entering his second campaign with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“I work out with my brothers all summer and they’re always hard on me, they want the best for me,” Max said. “They always want me to do my best and I always appreciate it when I can learn from both of them.”
Next up, main camp beginning with the first scrimmage at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by practices at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the second main camp scrimmage at 3:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a lot different,” Finley said. “There will be a lot of older guys, it’s going to be a way different pace and everything is just faster with stronger guys, so it’ll be a lot higher level… I think I’m strong enough to be out there with them, I just have to play my hardest and see what happens.”
Friday’s morning scrimmage saw Finley, Landen McFadden, William Degagne, Carter Wingert and Declan Siwicki score for Team Grey in their shutout win. The final game of rookie camp saw Mason Renaud score Grey’s other goal, while Riley Thorpe scored twice for Team Red to go along with single markers from Nolan Paquette, Noah Degenstein, Dylan Deets and Tavyn Boychuk.
Main camp wraps up Sunday with the final practice at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Black White Intrasquad Game at 12 p.m.
