INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, announced that they have signed forward/defenseman Christian Finch to a contract for the 2016-17 season.
Finch is heading into his first full professional season, after picking up three points (2g-1a) during a six-game stint with the Alaska Aces last March. The native of Unionville, Ontario signed with the Aces after wrapping up a three-year collegiate career with the University of Toronto where he compiled 57 points (19g-38a) in 63 career games. Prior to joining the Varsity Blues, Finch played his freshman campaign at Clarkson University, where he tallied five assists in 18 games for the Golden Knights in 2012-13.
A player with experience playing both up front and on the blue line, Finch played two seasons with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League prior to his collegiate career. He compiled 187 points (66g-121a) in 98 games with the Spirit, collecting 104 of those points in the 2011-12 campaign, earning OJHL First All-Star Team, league MVP and RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year honors – all while leading Stouffville to the 2012 OJHL championship. During his first year with the Spirit, Finch led his team – then members of the Central Canada Hockey League – in defensemen scoring with 21 points (4g-17a) over 46 games.