• Fanatics Can Now Enjoy the Tropical Fruit on Their Pizza and in Their Pepsi

This summer, Pepsi® and Little Caesars® are giving pineapple lovers more ways to enjoy the pizza topping. Together, the brands are bringing Pepsi Pineapple exclusively to Little Caesars.

Pizza has long been the center of the polarizing question, “does pineapple belong on pizza?” Now, Pepsi and Little Caesars are ensuring that no matter where fans stand on the answer, everyone can enjoy pineapple and their pizza.  Inspired by fans’ love of the fruit and its delicious flavor, Pepsi and Little Caesars are teaming up to give pineapple lovers a refreshing way to be enthusiastic about their favorite fruit.

Starting July 10, and for a limited time only, Little Caesars customers can get the Pineapple Pair-Up Combo, which includes a 16-ounce Pepsi Pineapple and a Large 2-Topping Thin Crust Pizza when purchased online for just $9.99.*

“There’s always a passionate discussion surrounding pineapple on pizza,” said Greg Hamilton, Chief Marketing Officer, Little Caesars. “Together with Pepsi, we’re satisfying ALL pineapple lovers, regardless of how they feel about it as a pizza topping. The Pineapple Pair-Up Combo gives our customers an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the tropical taste on their Thin Crust pizza, in their Pepsi or both.”’

The ideal light and crispy alternative for the warmer months, Little Caesars Thin Crust pizzas offer just the right amount of crispiness on the bottom and around the edges.

“Knowing how much Little Caesars fans enjoy pineapple on their pizza, we knew they were the perfect partner to help us celebrate this flavor,” said Scott Finlow, CMO of PepsiCo Global Foodservice. “Together, we’re proud to offer guests more ways to enjoy one of pizza’s most unapologetic toppings.”

Pepsi Pineapple made its original debut in 2020 for a limited time, and was instantly a summer hit, with fans clamoring over the refreshing combination of Pepsi cola and sweet, fruity notes of pineapple. Now available exclusively at Little Caesars, customers can get the summery flavor in a one-of-a-kind 16 ounce can, featuring a co-branded never-before-seen design.

* Offer good for a limited time at participating Little Caesars® stores on app and online orders (excluding third-party sites).  Cannot be combined with any other offers. Plus tax where applicable. Delivery available from participating locations with online orders only. Delivery fees apply. Small order fee for delivery orders less than $12. PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.

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The Detroit Branch NAACP recently held their “June Jubilee,” a four-day event during which attendees had the opportunity to participate in a special summit with workshops, the unveiling of a life-like statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Hart Plaza, a commemorative freedom walk through the city, and more. The long weekend of activities culminated with the 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, of which Ilitch Companies CEO Chris Ilitch served as Senior Corporate Chair.

With more than 4,000 guests at Detroit’s Huntington Place, the Detroit Branch NAACP’s Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner is considered the largest sit-down dinner in the world. This year’s event featured keynote speaker Sen. Raphael Warnock and awardee Ambassador Andrew Young. The event was followed by a President’s Reception held at the Fox Theatre.

Chris Ilitch’s role as Senior Corporate Chair continues a decades-long partnership between the NAACP and the Ilitch Companies. The late Mike Ilitch served in the position of Senior Corporate Chair in 1989, the same year he and his wife Marian Ilitch moved Little Caesars headquarters to the Fox Theatre Building. In 1990, Little Caesars Enterprises was named a lifetime member of the NAACP. Earlier this year, Chris Ilitch officially accepted the gavel from outgoing Senior Corporate Chair Gary Torgow, chairman of Huntington National Bank.

“A devotion to the city and to creating opportunity for Detroiters continues to guide me and our company’s mission,” said Chris Ilitch. “I am grateful to join the Detroit Branch NAACP in its important work to support our hometown and its residents.”

A highlight of this year’s “June Jubilee” weekend was the commemoration of the 60^th Anniversary of the Freedom Walk. In 1963, in a precursor to the March on Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led more than 100,000 marchers down Woodward Avenue for a rally in Hart Plaza, where he delivered the first version of his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Chris Ilitch joined Detroit Branch NAACP President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and other dignitaries to lead this year’s walk. Enthusiastic attendees, including Ilitch Companies colleagues, also participated.

“I’m grateful to our many colleagues who worked together to support this cause, including the Freedom Walk activities, placing Detroit Branch NAACP information on our venue marquees and on Little Caesars pizza box tops, and attending the Freedom Fund Dinner at Huntington Place,” Chris Ilitch said.

All guests at the Freedom Fund dinner were gifted a poster of a painting by Detroit artist Sydney James. The painting, commissioned by Ilitch Companies for the Detroit Branch NAACP, is called “Remember the Time,” and depicts the artist’s mother who took part in the 1963 march in Detroit. The original artwork was presented as a gift to the Detroit Branch NAACP at a dinner committee meeting held at Comerica Park prior to the weekend’s events. The artwork will be hung in the NAACP’s offices.

“We want to thank the Ilitch team, who has really stepped up to be a significant part of the 68^th annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner for the NAACP,” said Dr. Reverend Wendall Anthony, President, Detroit Branch NAACP.

Throughout the year, Ilitch Companies have supported various NAACP events, including a Career Day and Youth Summit, which exemplifies their partnership rooted in the common belief of creating opportunities for Detroiters through employment, economic inclusion, and education.

To see highlights from the weekend, watch this video:

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• Tigers fans can sign up now for early access to tee times for exclusive three-day event

The Detroit Tigers and Upper Deck Golf today announced that tee times will be available for bookings to the public for a one-of-a-kind golf event inside Comerica Park. The event, which will take place this fall, gives fans an exclusive opportunity to play a round of golf inside the ballpark.

Participants will tee off from the upper level of Comerica Park, with custom greens on the field. Fans will enjoy live music and food and beverage specials, in addition to golf challenges at multiple locations throughout the ballpark.

The event will take place over three consecutive days this fall following the Tigers season. Upper Deck Golf will offer tee times as early as 7:00 a.m., and as late as 9:00 p.m., on those days, with booking required in advance.

VIP tee times, which include a more premium experience, will also be available. Those fans will enjoy free entry into driving, chipping, and putting challenges, in addition to complimentary food and beverage items.

Standard golf clubs will be available for players to use at each tee box. While guests are welcome to bring their own clubs, no drivers or fairway metals are allowed at Upper Deck Golf events, for safety purposes.

Registration for tee times will open in early-September, but fans can register now for Early Access to tee times at upperdeckgolfing.com/comericapark. Tee times are limited and expected to sell out quickly.

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• Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion Spent Last Four Seasons as Red Wings Director of Amateur Scouting

Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that Kris Draper has been named assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting.

Draper, 52, will work alongside Yzerman and Red Wings assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff on all hockey operations matters for the organization, in addition to continuing in his role as director of amateur scouting.

Draper spent the last four seasons as Red Wings director of amateur scouting, overseeing the franchise’s amateur scouting department, running the NHL Entry Draft and assisting the Red Wings’ management team in various hockey operations decisions. As director of amateur scouting, Draper presided over the selection of six first-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft, choosing Lucas Raymond (fourth overall in 2020), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall in 2021), Sebastian Cossa (15th overall in 2021), Marco Kasper (eighth overall in 2022), Nate Danielson (ninth overall in 2023) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall in 2023). Draper was named Detroit’s director of amateur scouting prior to the 2019-20 campaign after working the previous eight seasons as assistant to the general manager, providing player evaluations at both the professional and amateur levels and input regarding potential trades and free agent signings.

Draper’s on-ice accomplishments are highlighted by four Stanley Cup titles in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, joining Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty as the only players to hoist the Stanley Cup in each of Detroit’s last four championship seasons. Originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (62nd overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft,  Draper played 20 games over three seasons in Winnipeg before the Jets dealt him to Detroit in exchange for future considerations on June 30, 1993. Draper spent the next 17 seasons in the Motor City, becoming a fixture in Detroit’s lineup during the 1993-94 season and played center on what became known as the ‘Grind Line’ with Maltby, and at different times, McCarty and Joe Kocur. They formed one of the most revered lines in Red Wings history and played an integral role in helping Detroit end a 42-year drought by capturing the 1997 Stanley Cup.

The Toronto, Ontario, native was recognized throughout his career as one of the top penalty killers and face-off men in the NHL and was rewarded with the 2004 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward. He became the fifth player in team history to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform, joining Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Yzerman and Lidstrom. Draper never missed the playoffs during his 17 seasons in Detroit and appeared in 220 postseason games with the Red Wings, ranking second in club history behind Lidstrom (263). In total, Draper recorded 361 points (158-203-361), a plus-78 rating and 781 penalty minutes in 1,137 games with the Red Wings from 1993-11, in addition to 46 points (24-22-46) and 160 penalty minutes in 220 postseason contests.

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On Sunday, June 25, the Detroit Branch NAACP hosted their 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, billed as the largest sit-down dinner in the world. With more than 4,000 guests, the event was opened by Senior Corporate Chair Chris Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Companies, who shared the video below highlighting the partnership between the two organizations as they work to support Detroit and its residents through employment, economic inclusion and education programs.

Ilitch Companies colleagues proudly took part in the Detroit Branch NAACP‘s 60th Commemorative Freedom Walk on Saturday, June 24—honoring the march of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Detroit 6 decades ago.

As part of an ongoing commitment to community engagement and making job opportunities available to Detroiters, Olympia Development of Michigan (ODM) and Related Companies (Related) held their first Contractor Fair on June 27 in partnership with  Detroit at Work.

Contractors large and small attended the fair to learn information about the multi-building developments planned for The District Detroit, which includes market-rate and affordable housing, hotels, education and office space, as well as public common areas.

“This was an informative session that provided the information that we as contractors need so that we can be prepared to do our best job, and show up and show out,” said Adrienne Bennett of Detroit-based Benkari Mechanical. Bennett, who worked on the Little Caesars Arena project, is North America’s first and only African-American female licensed master plumber and plumbing contractor.

The joint venture developments between Olympia and Related prioritizes prosperity for Detroiters through its core values of Engagement, Education, Environmental Justice, Economic Inclusion and Employment. By leveraging state and private investment, the developments’ economic and fiscal benefits for Detroit are expected to result in 12,000 construction jobs, 6,000 permanent jobs, 695 new residential units, with 139 affordable units, and a $751 million net benefit to the City of Detroit.

“We serve Detroiters, and we are willing to do the groundwork to build those skills for young people who are actually ready for these opportunities,” said Erika Page, Director of Youth Program Services for Detroit at Work: YouthBuild. “I’m honored to be invited here today to meet these contractors and share a little bit about our programing so that they are aware that we’re here to help them grow their talent pool. It’s a win – win.”

Detroit’s YouthBuild program provides an intensive, full-time, six-month construction pre-apprenticeship opportunity which helps young people obtain credentials and career skills that lead to permanent employment. Detroit at Work partners with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s Workforce Development Board, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporations and Detroit Work Career Centers to help Detroit find training, apprenticeships, and jobs.

“This contractor fair was a huge success. We were thrilled with the turnout and the opportunity to expand our current relationships and form new ones with local contractors – large and small,” said Yanet Garcia, Vice President of Construction at Related. “Across our projects in The District Detroit there is something for everyone – and not just those who are contractors. Through our partnership with Detroit at Work, we are proud to be an outlet for those looking for work or interested in a career change.”

Detroit City Councilmembers Fred Durhal III, Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Mary Waters and Coleman A. Young II also participated in the event, encouraging Detroit contractors and businesses to avail themselves of training, apprenticeship and job opportunities.

The Contractor Fair is one in a long chain of events aimed at engaging the community in the planning, building and activating of The District Detroit. Recently, ODM and Related hosted their first design charrette for Columbia Plaza. Additionally, The District Detroit Opportunity Center will open in July at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Montcalm and to help anyone looking for a job or housing in The District Detroit.

To register for future contractor events or complete a Contractor in-take form please visit https://www.DistrictDetroit.com/Contractors or email Contractors@DistrictDetroit.com with any questions.

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• Sydney’s Family Connection to Original Walk Inspired Her Personal, Moving Original Work

Detroit native Sydney James’ lifelong artistic talent and family history intersected in a meaningful way this summer when she was commissioned by the Ilitch Companies to create an original piece commemorating the Detroit Branch NAACP’s 60^th annual Freedom Walk. Sydney’s mother participated in the original walk on June 23, 1963, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so the project was incredibly personal to the artist.

The centerpiece of the Sydney’s commissioned work, titled “Remember the Time,” is an iconic and historic photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., marching down Woodward Avenue, held in the present-day hand of Sydney’s mother as she reflected on the event. The painting was created into posters for the Detroit Branch NAACP’s Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, with each of the 4,000+ dinner attendees given a copy. The original artwork was donated to the Detroit Branch NAACP. Ilitch Companies CEO Chris Ilitch served as Senior Corporate Chair of this year’s event.

Honored to commemorate the historic event, Sydney appreciates that the march took place in her hometown.  “This year is the 60^th anniversary of the Freedom Walk, and Ilitch Companies wanted me to commemorate that day, really seal it in time and honor it,” said Sydney. “Dr. King found Detroit important enough to be here and do this walk. It’s legendary for him to even be in this space and activating Woodward Avenue.”

Sydney’s mother, who lived in the Jeffries Projects – up the street from where the walk took place – participated in the walk when she was 14 years old. This painting, and every other piece that Sydney produces, are pieces of her that gain inspiration from her daily interactions with family, friends, and most importantly, Detroit as a whole. “Detroit is everything to me. Detroit is where Blackness and Black love resides,” said Sydney. “This is the place that taught Black people how to strut in their Blackness. No matter where we are or where we go in the world, we strut. We walk like we mean it, like we belong there, because we belong wherever we set foot.”

Sydney has always had a talent for art. When she was three years old, she drew a picture she saw in her Smurfs coloring book that looked so much like the original, her mom made her re-draw it in front of her. This interaction affirmed to both Sydney and her mother that art wouldn’t just be a hobby for her in the future. “In kindergarten, my art teacher pulled my parents aside, and said, ‘this child has abilities. When she gets of age, you need to get her some real art classes,’” explained Sydney, whose parents eventually put her into art classes at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, where she later received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001.

Throughout her career as a fine arts painter, muralist and Detroit creative, Sydney’s award-winning and recognized works have been featured at Detroit’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD), the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit’s Murals in the Market, and other sites both nationally and internationally.

When she was a senior at Cass Technical High School in 1997, Sydney won first place in the Detroit Branch NAACP’s ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Competition for her artistic submission. Nearly three decades later, Ilitch Companies tapped her to create a piece of lasting history for the NAACP that’d be meaningful to the organization and its constituents.

• Four Defensemen, Three Forwards and Two Goaltenders Chosen By Detroit in Nashville

The Detroit Red Wings today selected nine players during the second day of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

The Red Wings used three selections in the second round, adding goaltender Trey Augustine (41st overall) and defensemen Andrew Gibson (42nd overall) and Brady Cleveland (47th overall). From there, Detroit chose left wing Noah Dower-Nilsson (73rd overall) in the third round and defenseman Larry Keenan (117th overall) in the fourth round. The Red Wings picked defenseman Jack Phelan (137th overall) and left wing Kevin Bicker (147th overall) in the fifth round before taking goaltender Rudy Guimond (169th overall) in the sixth round and center Emmitt Finnie (201st overall) in the seventh round.

Detroit’s first pick of the day was the ninth choice of the second round (41st overall), which the team used on goaltender Trey Augustine. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound netminder has spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. Augustine posted a 29-1-2 record with a 2.13 goals-against average, a 0.926 save percentage and one shutout in 33 games with the NTDP’s under-18 squad during the 2022-23 campaign. He also finished with a 10-1-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average, a 0.928 save percentage and one shutout in 14 games with Team USA in the United States Hockey League. On the international stage, Augustine won a bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, owning a 4-1-0 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and an 0.891 save percentage in six appearances. He backstopped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, holding a perfect 6-0-0 record with a 1.61 goals-against average and a 0.934 save percentage in six appearances. Augustine also earned a silver medal at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, posting a 3-1-0 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and an 0.882 save percentage in four contests. A native of South Lyon, Mich., Augustine is committed to Michigan State University for the 2023-24 season.

The Red Wings used the following pick on defenseman Andrew Gibson (42nd overall), who spent the 2022-23 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner paced the team’s rookies with 21 points (7-14-21) and 30 penalty minutes in 45 games. Gibson made his major junior debut with the Greyhounds in 2021-22, tallying a plus-one rating and six penalty minutes in six games. Gibson spent the majority of the 2021-22 season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and was named the league’s top defenseman after logging 51 points (21-30-51) and 30 penalty minutes in 40 regular-season games. He helped the Thunderbirds win a NOJHL championship after posting 11 points (3-8-11) and 20 penalty minutes in 25 postseason contests. The LaSalle, Ont., native developed with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires AAA program prior to his major junior career. On the international stage, Gibson won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, finishing with three assists, a plus-five rating and 25 penalty minutes in seven games.

Detroit originally held another selection in the second round (43rd overall), but dealt it to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round pick (47th overall) and a fifth-round pick (147th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With their third and final selection of the second round, the Red Wings drafted defenseman Brady Cleveland (47th overall). The 6-foot-5, 210-pound blueliner has spent the last two seasons with the NTDP, recording six assists, a plus-19 rating and 106 penalty minutes in 55 games with the under-18 squad in 2022-23. He also dished out three assists, a plus-nine rating and 60 penalty minutes with Team USA in 19 USHL contests. During the 2021-22 season, Cleveland had one assist and 36 penalty minutes in 17 games with the under-18 squad, in addition to three assists and 41 penalty minutes in 26 appearances with the under-17 group. He made his USHL debut in 2021-22, logging two helpers and 75 penalty minutes in 26 matchups. A native of Wausau, Wis., Cleveland is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2023-24 season.

The following round, the Red Wings selected left wing Noah Dower-Nilsson (73rd overall), a 6-foot, 185-pound forward who spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with Frölunda’s under-20 squad. Dower-Nilsson paced Sweden’s top junior league with 54 points (26-28-54) in 37 regular-season games, in addition to two assists in two postseason appearances. He becomes the first Red Wings draft pick to lead Sweden’s under-20 circuit in scoring since Jonatan Berggren tallied 57 points (18-39-57) in 38 games with Skelleftea AIK’s junior team in 2017-18. A native of Stromstad, Sweden, Dower-Nilsson helped Sweden capture a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, recording six points (2-4-6) and six penalty minutes in seven games. He also won a silver medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, notching four points (1-3-4) in five games. Additionally, Dower-Nilsson made two appearances with Sweden’s bronze-medal entry at the 2022 World Junior “A” Challenge. He is the younger brother of Red Wings prospect Liam Dower-Nilsson, who was selected by the organization in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

With their lone pick in the fourth round, the Red Wings chose Larry Keenan (117th overall), a 6-foot-3, 186-pound defenseman who has played the last two seasons at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind. Keenan racked up 37 points (11-26-37) and 34 penalty minutes in 49 games with Culver Military Academy Prep during the 2022-23 campaign. He previously logged 13 points (4-9-13) in 28 games with the program’s under-16 squad in 2021-22. The Midhurst, Ont., native added 28 points (13-15-28) and 18 penalty minutes in 41 games with the York Simcoe Express under-15 team during the 2019-20 season. His grandfather, also named Larry Keenan, recorded 102 points (38-64-102) and 28 penalty minutes in 233 NHL games over parts of six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers from 1961-62 and 1967-72. Keenan is committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2024-25 season.

The Red Wings used their first of two fifth-round selections to pick defenseman Jack Phelan (137th overall). The 6-foot-2, 171-pound blueliner played the 2022-23 season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, registering five points (1-4-5) and 26 penalty minutes in 59 games. Phelan spent part of the 2021-22 season with the North Iowa Bulls of the North American Hockey League, dishing out two assists and four penalty minutes in 12 games. The Hinsdale, Ill., native also competed with the Chicago Express AAA program in 2021-22, showing 14 points (2-12-14) and 36 penalty minutes in 24 games at the under-18 level. Phelan is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2024-25 season.

Later in the fifth round, Detroit selected left wing Kevin Bicker (147th overall), a 6-foot, 176-pound forward who spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with Jungadler Mannheim in Germany’s top junior league, recording 21 points (10-11-21) and 16 penalty minutes in 20 regular-season games before notching 16 points (10-6-16) and 37 penalty minutes in 10 postseason contests. Bicker made his professional debut with Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga during the 2022-23 campaign, making one appearance in Germany’s highest professional league. A native of Schwabach, Germany, Bicker also played with Jungadler Mannheim in 2021-22, totaling six points (2-4-6) and 37 penalty minutes in 23 games, in addition to two goals in five playoff matchups. On the international stage, Bicker represented his country at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, logging two points (1-1-2) and two penalty minutes in six games. He also competed for Germany at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, notching four points (1-3-4) in four games.

With their sixth-round pick, the Red Wings chose another goaltender in Rudy Guimond (169th overall). The 6-foot-2, 166-pound netminder has played the last two seasons at Taft School in Watertown, Conn., posting a 0.940 save percentage in 28 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign. Guimond also spent time with the Yale Jr. Bulldogs AAA program in 2022-23, logging a 0.939 save percentage in 17 contests with the under-18 team. A native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Guimond spent two seasons at Kuper Academy in his home province, posting a 5-2-0 record with a 2.25 goals-against average in eight games during the 2019-20 season and a 4-2-1 mark with a 3.14 goals-against average in seven games in 2018-19. Guimond is committed to Yale University for the 2025-26 season.

The Red Wings made their final pick by taking center Emmitt Finnie in the seventh round (201st overall). The forward spent the 2022-23 season with the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers, recording 35 points (9-26-35), a plus-11 rating and 12 penalty minutes in 64 games, in addition to seven points (4-3-7) in 14 postseason contests. Finnie also skated in four games at the 2023 Memorial Cup, which was hosted by Kamloops. He debuted with the Blazers in 2021-22, posting six assists, a plus-three rating and two penalty minutes in 48 regular-season games before making one playoff appearance. Prior to his major junior career, Finnie competed at Yale Hockey Academy of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League from 2018-21, appearing in five games at the under-18 level in 2020-21 after compiling 107 points (51-56-107) in 60 games with the under-15 squad from 2018-20.