Hotshot rookie stopper Finley just what Colts needed

Brian Finley is quite happy with the decision he made back in June. So are the Barrie Colts. By choosing to play in the Ontario League, Finley will now play against the world. The rookie goalie was one of 18 OHL players named to Team Ontario for the Under-17 International Hockey Championship, Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Kitchener, Ont. The tourney also involves Quebec, United States, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Finley, 16, played bantam in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., last season and considered taking a U.S. college scholarship offer. At the 11th hour, he picked the OHL and the Colts picked him in the second round, 29th overall. It has paid off for the Colts, who were atop the OHL at 20-9-1 in the team’s third season. “I felt the OHL would be better for…

Cashman wants leadership from Lindros and Company

Eric Lindros finally ended the longest goal-scoring drought of his career, but questions about team leadership lingered. The Philadelphia Flyers’ captain scored in a 1-1 tie with the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 1 to snap a 10-game slump. Lindros’ previous longest scoring slump was six games. Two nights later, Lindros and his teammates were struggling for offense again and dropped a 3-0 decision to the Boston Bruins at the CoreStates Center. The shutout, the third against the Flyers in 17 home games, drew the wrath of coach Wayne Cashman. “I want more leadership from everybody,” Cashman said. “I want more determination. I want some people to get mad. That was embarrassing.” All this came just days after Lindros was named captain of Canada’s Olympic team. Lindros, who had just 10 goals in 28 games-including one…

NHL STATISTICAL REPORT

Hot Domenichelli patient about rise above Sainthood

If anyone ever deserved to stand up and scream, “Get me out of here, I should be in The Show,” it’s Hnat Domenichelli. A quarter of the way into the American League season, Domenichelli is scoring at a near-record pace. Through 22 games, the second-year center had 19 goals for the Saint John Flames, which translates to a 69-goal season. Only four players have ever scored 60 goals in the AHL, and Stephan Lebeau set the record of 70 for the Sherbrooke Canadiens in 1988-89. But with four Saint John players already on recall to the Calgary Flames, what’s Domenichelli saying about still being down on the farm? No problem, fife is great. “Obviously you want to go up to the NHL,” Domenichelli said, “but I’m only 21 years old, if I don’t go…