Ben Finkelstein hadn’t played in a college hockey game in just over a year before taking to the Conte Forum ice Friday night.
The South Burlington, Vt., native chose to leave St. Lawrence, where he played the first season and a half of his college career, following the team’s game against Canisius last Jan. 6. He opted to finish the 2017-18 season with the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL.
Finkelstein was so good in Waterloo he was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year, despite playing less than half of his team’s games. Friday night against Providence College, he showed some glimpses of why the Eagles and several other major college hockey programs were so eager to have him join their program.
Finkelstein didn’t find the score sheet, but he played the point on the Eagles’ second power play unit, made several nice breakout plays, and defended well with his feet, including a key first period block.
