NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Stouffville Spirit forward Christian Finch has been named the Gongshow Gear North-West Conference Player-of-the-Month after recording 22 points in 8 games played throughout the month of December.

For the second consecutive month, the Spirit’s alternate captain took home the North-West’s top monthly honour and has now holds a decisive lead in the overall scoring race with 76 points in 36 games played. Finch actually bettered his November totals and continued his point scoring streak that dates back to October 23, numbering 18 games by the end of December, and currently sitting at 21 consecutive games with at least a point. Six of his eight games during the month, saw Finch record multiple points, including two-four point games and four-three point outings. He would increase his league-leading assist total to 47 helpers on the season and sits just behind the power play assist leader with 22 on the man advantage.

Finch was once again very humbled to receive the honour, “It's a great accomplishment for me to be named Player-of-the-Month for the second time, but it's more of a testament to my teammates and coaches for giving me the opportunities. While playing with Chris Porter and Drake Caggiula (linemates), we've been able to click and get good chemistry. Our team has really come together and we’re getting contributions from everyone, allowing us to put up a 15 game streak without a regulation loss. We're looking forward to carrying this momentum into playoffs and going as far as we can.”

Spirit Head Coach Craig Donovan was not surprised to see his star forward honoured once again, “With so many good players in our conference, it is quite an accomplishment for Christian to be named Player-of-the-Month in back-to-back months, however; it is well-deserved as he has improved on his impressive November numbers. In December, we achieved 14 of 16 points (as a team), due in large part to Christian’s overall contribution. He continues to grow as a forward and makes his line a threat to score every time they are on the ice.

Donovan continued by discussing the attributes that have brought Finch the success he has achieved thus far this season, “His goal at the start of the year was to improve his all-round game so that he could step in and play significant minutes at Clarkson next year as a freshman at the NCAA Division 1 level. By earning this award in back-to-back months, he is showing that he is well on his way to achieving this goal. Christian is a great example of a player who has worked hard in pursuit of playing at a higher level. As a first year OJHL player with Brampton, he played sparingly but did not lose sight of his goals. Since joining the Spirit, he has put in many hours over the past 2 summers to improve his fitness level, quickness and stamina and it is paying off for him now. He is a great example to his younger teammates and other OJHL players of what can be accomplished if you truly commit to your goals.”

Chad Bennett of the Aurora Tigers was runner-up to Finch as the North-West Conference Player-of-the-Month. The third-year native of Burlington, Ontario has taken over the club’s scoring lead after a late November trade from Brampton, posting 15 points in 8 games played for the Tigers during the month of December.
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Born on April 9, 1991 and a native of Unionville, Ontario, Christian Finch grew up playing his minor hockey in a number of different organizations. After starting his career in the Markham Waxers system, he would move on to play with the GTHL’s Toronto Red Wings organization for a few years, followed by the Don Mills Flyers. Finch would finish his minor hockey career playing for the Vaughan Kings Midget ‘AAA’ club that won the GTHL title before ultimately falling to the eventual national champion Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves in the OHF All-Ontario tournament. The burgeoning defenceman was always one of the key components of any team he played for before making the jump to junior hockey full-time in 2008-09.

After playing one game with the Vaughan Vipers during his midget season, Finch would initially join the Brampton Capitals organization as a 17-year old in 2008-09, recording eight points in forty-one games played as a rookie rearguard. The following season, he was moved to the Stouffville Spirit and would lead all Spirit defencemen in scoring with 17 assists and 21 points in 46 games played.

Clearly exhibiting offensive instincts during his two full years of junior, the club moved Finch to the forward position to start the 2010-11 OJHL season and he would not disappoint, recording 54 assists and 83 points to finish eighth overall in league scoring. He then helped the Spirit on a playoff run to the final four, ultimately falling in six games to the eventual league champion Wellington Dukes. Picking up where he left off last season, Finch is one of the Spirit’s undisputed leaders, both on and off the ice this year as the club looks to improve on last season’s finish.