HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey Bears trainer Max Finley is a familiar face fans typically see behind the bench at the GIANT Center but last weekend it was his turn to be front and center on the ice.
Finley was at the Jeff Sauer International Deaf Hockey Series last weekend, competing for Team USA and winning silver. It was a special opportunity for Finley to represent the red, white and blue while competing against some of the top hockey players around the world.
"The whole purpose of the event was to shed some light on deaf and hard of hearing athletes and their abilities that they have on the ice," said Finley. "Just come together and have a great time playing the game of hockey."
Finley lost his hearing when he was five years old following treatment for bacterial meningitis. However, that never stopped him from continuing to play the sport that he loves. He received a cochlear implant not long after his diagnosis and with the help of the technology was able to chase the dream he always had.
"We're hockey players just like anybody else and we don't necessarily see our hearing loss as a disability. It's just part of us a part of who we are," said Finley. "Us playing hockey is no different than anybody else. Just like any other kid growing up, I wanted to be a pro hockey player."
Through the American Hearing-Impaired Hockey Association, that determination led him to a unique opportunity. He earned a spot on Team USA's deaf hockey team in 2013, a chance to represent his country on the international hockey stage. He would go on to compete in the Deaflympics winning a bronze medal in 2015 and a gold medal in 2019.
"These opportunities may not have come around, if not for my circumstances. I wouldn't change anything," said Finley. "To put that jersey on and hear the national anthem of your country played, it's an unbelievable feeling. Something I'll always hold with me and never forget.”
An accomplishment his number-one supporters back in Hershey could not be more proud of.
"It's a lot of fun watching them, be one of the best athletes in the world right for playing the Olympics like that," said Aaron Ness, defenseman for the Hershey Bears. "It's pretty awesome and we'll always be behind [him] and it was really fun to watch."
"The guys in the locker room [are] super supportive. They know how much we support them on a day-to-day basis as they tried to win the Calder Cup and it's the same way, when I went to this tournament you still felt the support from the players," said Finley. "They were super excited, really interested in how the tournament. So I was really excited to come back and see those guys afterward and just share that experience with them.
Returning from the experience to continue his push for another Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears.
"He's very competitive. But just having people like that helped out our hockey team," said Hershey Bears Head Coach Todd Nelson. "It's a joint effort from everybody involved and he's definitely a big part of that."
With a final message from Finley, for those chasing their dreams facing the same obstacles that he has lived through.
"Keep working hard, follow your dreams," said Finley. "Know if you work hard and you stay committed to what you want to do, you're going to find success. It's not always easy, it's it's going to be hard at times but if you just push through, and just keep going, there's a lot of support out there."
Full interview with Hershey Bears trainer Max Finley: