Stonewall product Chris Fines is furthering his hockey career next season in the state of Montana. The former Portage Terrier will play for the University of Providence in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 for the 2023-24 campaign.
Fines helped guide the Niverville Nighthawks to their first playoff appearance in his final season in the MJHL. The 21-year-old finished the regular season with a 15-17 record and a 0.901 save percentage.
#PlayerAdvancement | Congratulations to @MJHLNighthawks G Chris Fines (02) who has committed to play @achamensd2 at The University of Providence.
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) June 21, 2023
📸 @IceWaveMediaMB #MJHLHockey #PlayHereGoAnywhere pic.twitter.com/aaYCHXVdk8
He had ten games in the regular season where he made 35+ saves. Fines also had two outstanding performances against his former team in the first round of the playoffs.
In Game 1 against the Terriers, Fines faced 53 shots and made 48 saves, but his team ultimately fell in double-overtime. In Niverville's one victory of the series, Fines made 38 stops.
Fines started 24 games in a Terrier uniform. In four games during 2020-21, he had a 1.95 goals-against-average and a 0.944 save percentage before COVID-19 caused the league to shut down.
Chris Fines with a huge glove save on the road in Steinbach 🛑 @PortageTerriers pic.twitter.com/hNG1xFApuT
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) January 27, 2022
Fines split time with current Terriers' goalie Jayden Catellier in the 2021-22 season before getting injured early in the year and losing his starting role.
The Stonewall product was traded to Niverville in August of 2022.