Loosing Andy Finney
On December 31st, Andy Finney said goodbye to the world surrounded by his family and other loved ones. Any battled pancreatic cancer for a year and half and continued to work and coach hockey till the end. He leaves behind him three children and a wonderful wife who continue his legacy for him. Andy’s joy for life and humor will be dearly missed and the hockey community will always remember him
“It’s not about what team you play for, it’s about being able to play the great game of hockey.”
Being diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer has barely slowed down player, coach and referee Andy Finney. You can still find him 4 days a week, at the rink, coaching this years BVSD Centaurus High School team. Being a coach for over a decade is a passion that he refuses to give up regardless of his diagnosis and how terrible he is feeling after chemo treatments. His passion and commitment to youth hockey and to the hockey community has been steadfast and long lasting.
Finney is a Minnesota boy, he grew up playing hockey on the frozen ponds by his house. Outdoor rinks were plentiful in the cold Minnesota winters and pick up games were easy to find! Finney’s love of hockey followed him to Colorado after college. Finney became an avid and involved “Beer League” player – playing in multiple leagues and tournaments across the Front Range.
A true “rink rat” he began sharing and installing his love of the game by becoming a youth hockey coach at Boulder Hockey Club and the Boulder Y. With over a decade of coaching experience, he has coached every level from Mite to High School. Besides instilling the same love and passion he has for the game in each player he has coached, he is proud of the individual connection that he established with his players. Being a mentor to student athletes is a number 1 priority for Andy. He believes that the game of hockey provides a great opportunity not only to teach the game of hockey to these young men or women, but also to teach good sportsmanship, and strong character development.
Finney’s continued love of the game drove him to become a youth hockey referee five years ago. Being a ref is a thankless job, but Finney never missed an opportunity to have a “teaching moment” with a player or remind a player that hockey should be a fun game!
Finney’s entire family has been influenced by his love of hockey! His two sons, Max and Jordan both played for Boulder Hockey Club, his daughter Serena can explain the difference between a back check and a fore-check without thinking about it and his wife, Gina aka DJ Gina, played music at many of the games.
Chances are if you had a youth player in a front range league in the last decade, you have come in contact with Andy Finney. He is fighting his diagnosis with the same passion and commitment that he has brought to hockey.
Andy has a long journey ahead of him. Andy & his family are tackling his Pancreatic Cancer from all corners of the rink! Unfortunately some of the treatments are not covered by insurance and the costs add up quickly.
