Emmitt Finnie with the puck he scored his first pro hockey goal with. (Image Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins)

By Victor Kaisar

Formers Blazers Update

Blazers’ Finnie scores first pro goal; Minten makes Bruins debut against former teammate Stankoven

Apr 6, 2025 | 1:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was a second milestone in as many nights for Kamloops Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie as he got to take home another puck Saturday (April 5) night.

Finnie snapped a wrist shot past Drew Commesso in the third period of the Griffin’s 7-5 win over the Rockford Ice Hogs. The 19-year-old was on the end of an aerial pass from Austin Watson and beat the goaltender low on the glove side for his first professional hockey goal.

Finnie’s goal came just one day after he picked up his first point in professional hockey. He’s on a two-game point streak and has two points in seven career AHL regular season games.

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It was also a milestone Saturday for former Blazers captain Fraser Minten as he played his first game for the Boston Bruins, roughly one month after he was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While Minten was held scoreless in 14:59 of ice time, the Bruins snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden.

“It was great. Lots of fun,” Minten said. “Unreal crowd out there, great rink to play in and getting the win was awesome.

“Getting out there and getting the win and getting to know some of the guys and getting to complete at the NHL level…you know can’t complain.”

Minten was facing off against former teammate Logan Stankoven, himself a former Blazers captain. Stankoven, the 22-year-old Kamloops native, swapped the Dallas Stars for the Hurricanes at the trade deadline.

Minten has two goals and four points in 20 career NHL games. He also has nine goals and 20 points in 36 AHL games split between the Toronto Marlies and the Providence Bruins.

The 20-year-old Vancouver native had a four-game cameo for the Leafs last season, and played in 15 NHL games this season before being traded. Minten also scored the game winner in his first NHL game this season.

“Getting to understand how the business works, going up, going down a few times a season,” Minten said of his season ahead of his Bruins debut. “Just trying to figure out what you can do to stick around and ultimately get to the NHL and stay there.”

“Lots of good experiences. Definitely been helpful to my trajectory.”

Stankoven, who has established himself as an NHL regular this season, has 18 goals and 49 points in 96 career NHL games. He scored his first NHL goal on his 21st birthday last year, and also scored the game winner in his Hurricanes debut last month.

Logan Stankoven (L) playing for the Carolina Hurricanes, while Fraser Minten warms up ahead of hiis Boston Bruins debut. (Images via NHL)