Senior Goalie AJ Finta Leaves a Lasting Legacy on Syracuse Men’s Hockey
- Maria Kaffes
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Benjamin Lefkowitz
One decision paid dividends for Syracuse Men’s Hockey for the past four years. When senior goalie AJ Finta graduated from Middlesex School, a boarding school in Concord, Massachusetts, he was unsure whether he would continue playing the game he loved. After the realization that playing at the division one and three level wasn’t in the cards, Finta came to SU, uncertain about the next path for his hockey career.
Eventually, in the fall of 2022, the then-freshman decided to try out for the club team and made it. From then on, the legacy in the crease at Tennity Ice Pavilion began. During his freshman season, Finta served as the backup, but from his sophomore year onward, the Connecticut native was the starter for the rest of his time with the program.
On the ice at 6 feet, Finta prides himself on his size in the blue crease, which helps him take away angles from his opponents. The skills in the net have only developed for Finta over the past four years, and he has mastered them.
Cash Lawrence, a freshman who backs up Finta, takes away many lessons from the senior who he will eventually replace. At 6-foot-5, Lawrence hopes to replicate how Finta used his big frame in the net.
“He has a big and reactive game, a wide frame that he uses very well. His explosiveness allows him to battle and find his way in front of pucks throughout the game,” Lawrence added.
The words gamer, clutch, and timely are synonymous with Finta’s play over his time with the Orange. From a 38-save effort and final stop in the shootout to beat then-second-ranked Adrian earlier this season, to a dominant 44-save performance to sweep Stony Brook, when it matters most, Finta delivers.
“I feel like a broken record, but he’s a gamer. When it comes down to game time, he locks in, and he wants to do everything he can to keep the puck out of the net. He’s come up big for us in numerous games throughout his time here, and it’s just his willingness to win that has earned him that recognition,” SU head coach Chris Timmons said.
When there may be chaos in front of him with breakdowns on occasion, Finta is always there to bail his team out. Senior captain Connor Chesner is grateful to have Finta behind him as the last line of defense.
“It is really nice to have someone who can bail us out anytime. He has bailed us out countless times, I can remember so many games where we should have lost, but came out with a win,” Chesner said.
From taking on the number one role as just an underclassman, Finta’s development has been crucial for his on-ice success. From his understanding of the game, competitiveness, and drive to win, Finta has established himself as a key player on the roster over the past three years as a starter.
“From freshman year to now, the amount of confidence I have on the ice is through the roof. My overall knowledge of the game, I think about the game in different ways now than I have in the past,” Finta said.
From behind the bench, coach Timmons has had a great perspective on Finta’s growth over the past four years. From sitting in the penalty box as a backup his freshman year to leading his team out on the ice as a starter, Timmons has seen a growth in Finta’s mindset.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve seen from AJ is just his compete and drive to win has grown so much. I think coming in, AJ didn’t expect it to be as competitive as it was, but then over time working through the seasons as a backup, then earning the starting role, he’s just come back each year hungrier to win,” Timmons added.
That mentality has propelled Finta into the program’s record books. The senior leads all goalies in saves with 2,127 and games played with 72. While his efforts are heroic on countless nights and a key reason for wins, Finta's even-keeled mindset allows him to have success.
“I go into every game calm, cool, and collected. I have that mentality when every game is just another game, I don’t try to do too much,” Finta said.
Beyond his clutch play in the blue paint, over the past four years, Finta has grown as a leader. Despite not having a letter on his jersey, when he speaks, his team listens.
“I know I have that place in the locker room. It's fun to be a motivator, and it takes weight off their shoulders when they see the goalie getting fired up. I really let my team see my emotions, and they play it off nicely,” Finta said.
From highlight-reel saves to wisdom off the ice, Finta has left a lasting legacy on Syracuse Hockey and is among the greats at the goalie position.
“The biggest thing I am going to miss is at the end of the game coming off the ice after a win, walking into the locker room knowing that I was the difference, " Finta said. “Might have been a game I stole, or I had a ton of saves, walking into the locker room the guys mob you, everyone is fired up, it moments like that after a win I won’t forget.”
