Quinn Finley’s Invisible String

According to an ancient Chinese proverb, an invisible string "connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance.”

For sophomore Quinn Finley, his invisible string stretches from Green Bay to Long Island to Ontario to Madison, as he’s had chance encounters with many future Wisconsin teammates throughout his 18-year hockey journey.

“I’m super lucky and fortunate to be able to play at Wisconsin with so many guys I’ve already met throughout my life,” he said.

The forward began unraveling his spool of unseen string in Arizona, where he started learning how to skate when he was two. He then moved to Marinette, Wisconsin, to play minor hockey before driving 2.5 hours twice a week to play for a team in Iron Mountain, Michigan. He skated there for a few years and returned to the Green Bay area full-time to play for the Jr. Gamblers AAA program from 2017 to 2020. 

It was in Green Bay that Finley’s invisible string led him to meet his first set of future Wisconsin teammates – current sophomore forward Sawyer Scholl and senior defenseman Daniel Laatsch, who he’s known since he was 13. Scholl and Laatsch played for a local high school called Notre Dame Academy, while Finley attended their rival school, Bay Port. 

But, Finley had made a promise to his AAA coach that he would play another year, so he kept his word and returned to the Jr. Gamblers for his 15U season. Despite the decision, he remained good friends with Scholl and Laatsch, spending his summers the way he spends every day with them now – at the rink.

“Early workouts suck, and since he couldn’t drive, I had to go get Finner and listen to him complain in the car,” said Scholl, laughing. “I would chauffeur him around doing a bunch of stuff, such as late-night skates followed by a Denny’s run at 1 a.m. It was a lot of fun.”

In 2020, the invisible string started to pull Finley in another direction as he was drafted first overall by the Madison Capitols in the United States Hockey League (USHL) Futures Draft. However, before he was able to play a game for Madison, COVID hit, and the USHL held a dispersal draft where it was decided that the forward would play for the Chicago Steel on a one-year loan. During his year with Chicago, Finley worked hard on his development, helping his team to a USHL championship.

“The general manager there, Ryan Hardy, was really big on my development and making sure that I was practicing with some legit players like Matthew Coronato, Mackie Samoskevich, Josh Doan, Sean Farrell – these big-time names,” said Finley on his experience with the Steel. “They focused on workouts and getting just a little bit better every day. It was a pretty cool experience.”

Though Finley didn’t meet any future UW teammates during his time in Chicago, his invisible string led him in the direction he needed to grow as both a player and person. Before his second season in the USHL and after COVID protocols were relaxed, the forward returned home to Wisconsin, ready to start his career as a Capitol. 

The momentum of 2022 didn’t stop there for the Suamico, Wisconsin, native.

The sophomore wrapped up his eventful year by getting named to the 21-man roster representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ontario. Who else was on that team? None other than current sophomore defenseman Joe Palodichuk – the invisible string strikes again.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was really young to win a national championship here,” he said on his connection to UW. “It’s something that Joe Pavelski did. Since he’s also from Wisconsin, I thought that was really cool, and it became something that I wanted to do. While I was being recruited here, the staff told me how special it is to be a Badger and how many connections and memories you can make here. That really made me want to be a part of it.”

Since they had been in Finley’s shoes just a year prior, the pair passed down their knowledge on navigating being a student-athlete, providing the forward with valuable insight and support. 

“They went through everything I was going through at the time, so they were telling me what to do and where to go,” Finley said. “You trust them and you know them. You’ve already built up that relationship. They know what they’re talking about and you should listen to them. It was really nice to have them around.”

Finley finished his freshman year with 10 goals and 16 points, even earning a Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Watch List nod, but it was his off-ice connections that made the season truly memorable. His ability to connect with teammates – old friends and new faces alike – allowed his personality to shine in the locker room, making the forward a key figure not just as a player, but as part of the team’s culture.

This reunion further strengthened the bonds Finley had formed with his teammates long before their collegiate days, making their time together at Wisconsin feel like the continuation of a shared journey.

"They’re all great dudes, a lot of ups, a lot of jokes and laughs,” said Finley on playing alongside his Capitols teammates again. “They’re all really good hockey players and it’s fun to be able to come back together and finish things here now. They have improved as skaters over the years, and it’s cool to see each of them get better every day and see the strides that they’re taking.”

Finley’s teammates aren’t the only ones who have been getting better each day. The forward spent the offseason before his sophomore year working hard, training to get bigger, stronger and faster. The payoff of his efforts has been evident as he is currently tied for the national lead in goals and is second in the country in points, already doubling his freshman year point total just over halfway through the 2024-25 season.

“The work that he put in this summer has translated to production, confidence and respect in the locker room,” said Coach Hastings on Finley’s offseason transformation. “The maturation mentally is matching the maturation physically. He’s okay talking in the locker room, he provides an example as a leader even though he’s not wearing a letter. I think he’s been great for us on the ice and equally as impactful off the ice.”

The forward’s maturation and growth is something that all of his teammates have noticed, especially the ones that have known him long term. 

“He was one of the most skilled guys I’ve ever been on a team with, but he lacked maturity,” Dexheimer said on Finley’s development. “He grew up a lot in his last year of junior hockey and grew up even more in his freshman year here, and it’s showing now in his sophomore year.”

“The chemistry I have with Mose and Gav is very, very good,” he said about his linemates. “They're both unreal hockey players and can finish and pass really well. They both see the game at a high level. It’s fun to play with them every night.”

Mosley adds, “We’re able to tell each other things that are going well and things that can be better, and that’s really helped us through the season. He’s a great player who’s so fast and dynamic and can make plays all over the ice. It’s easy to play with him. I’m always looking to give him a pass since I know he’s got a good chance to score every time he shoots it.”

The string that connects Finley to the seven teammates he knew prior now extends to Morrissey, Mosley and the rest of the Badgers roster, forging more connections that will last a lifetime. 

“Finner is one of a kind,” said Scholl. “Seeing him grow up through everything, he’s matured from a 13-year-old to now a 20-year-old where he’s still an absolute stud. We’ll be friends with each other forever, and it’s cool to look at everything we’ve been through. He was built in a lab, and he’s got nothing but the sky above him for his potential which is exciting to watch.”

“I think having a core group of guys you can go from one part of your life to another is really big for development, hockey-wise and just in life,” said Dexheimer.

Through every step of his journey, Finley’s invisible string has continued to lead him to the right people – teammates who have not only pushed him to improve but who have also shared in his successes and challenges. Whether with old friends or new linemates, these connections have fueled his growth as both a player and a person, creating an invisible web of trust and camaraderie that has defined his time as a Badger.

As Finley continues to evolve on and off the ice, it’s these ties that have made his journey even more meaningful, proving that the strength of his team lies not only in their talent but in the relationships that have guided them along the way.

“It’s super cool to be able to have those connections and go night in and night out with guys that I’ve known for so long,” he said. “I love playing with them here – it’s something not a lot of people are able to do with some of their lifelong friends.”