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Finlinson Impresses Nell, As OHA Youngsters Get Wildcats Chance
Despite losing on home ice to Guildford Flames last weekend, Swindon Wildcats' head coach took some heart from the eye-catching performance of seventeen-year-old Adam Finlinson who iced for the senior side.
Finlinson, a product of the Okanagan Hockey Academy, came in to the Wildcats rosters after the side found themselves low on personnel following injuries.
The youngster played his part in Wildcats' narrow defeat to the Flames, in a high-octane match which Nell later admitted had the feel and tempo of a play-off game.
Speaking to Total Sport following the clash, Nell admitted he had already been impressed by Finlinson in the week leading up to the Guildford encounter.
"Adam lit up practice last night and he was flying. The whole team couldn't believe it, they were like 'who is this guy?'," Nell began.
"He can give that little bit extra that perhaps some other players can't," he added.
Finlinson joined up with the Wildcats from North East side Kingston juniors, and has since been instilled into the club's closely linked Okanagan academy.
And, since his transition to head coach in the Wildcats set-up, Nell has insisted that youth will always get the opportunity to prove their worth with time on the ice.
"We want to give young guys a chance but they've got to work their way in work hard. They're a massive part of our future," said Nell, himself a product of the Swindon youth system.
The secret to Finlinson working his way into the senior Wildcats' plans full time is now rather simple, according to Nell, who cites hard work as the recipe to success.
"He just needs to work hard. We are very lucky that we have got some experienced players here, who you can watch and you can learn from. He’s getting great guidance from Ryan (Aldridge) in the OHA.
“He is a very, very good player. He has got a serious, serious amount of talent and hopefully he can be a big part of our future," Nell added.
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