Brian Finley was born July 3, 1981 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The first choice, 6th overall selection of the Nashville Predators in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Finley is a graduate of the OHL's Barrie Colts.
A highly touted netminder, Finley spent the better part of four seasons with the Barrie Colts before joining the Brampton Battalion for their playoff drive in 2001. In his three full seasons in Barrie, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native was a member of the 1998 OHL All-Rookie Team, an OHL First Team All-Star and OHL Goaltender of the Year in 1999, led the Barrie to the 2000 OHL Championship and second place finish at the 2000 Memorial Cup.
The international stage has also been successful for Finley, as a member of Ontario's Gold Medal team at the 1997 Under 17 International Championship, as a member of Canada's Gold Medal team at the Under 18 World Junior Championships and a member of Canada's Silver Medal team at the 1999 World Junior Championships.
Finley was supposed to make his professional debut with the Predators organization in 2001-02, however, he was hampered by groin injury which kept him out of hockey for the entire season.
In 2002-03 Finley returned to the ice and spent the majority of the year with Nashville's AHL affiliate in Milwaukee while making his NHL debut with the parent club later that season.
In 2006 during the off-season, Finlay was signed as a free agent by the Boston Bruins.
