By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on Twitter / X @cookejournalism
John Farinacci played in 19 games as a senior at Harvard University. As one of the Crimson’s top skaters, he logged a substantial amount of ice time en route to a 24-8-2 campaign that resulted in an appearance at the NCAA Regional Semifinal. It was a long season for the Red Bank, N.J. native after a herniated disc delayed his debut to January.
But that was only a sliver of what was to come for the Boston Bruins prospect. In his first professional season under a two-way contract with the Bruins, he suited up for 71 contests with the Providence Bruins. That’s nearly four times the workload than what the youngster was used to while captaining the Crimson in 2022-23.
With one complete pro season under his belt, Farinacci was one of the many hungry, hopeful participants at Bruins Rookie Camp Wednesday. The Bruins return to Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday for another practice session before heading to Buffalo to partake in the Prospects Challenge. Farinacci is hoping to use this opportunity to crack a spot on the Bruins’ lineup card.
“That’s the hope obviously,” he said Wednesday. “That’s the dream for any kid and especially anybody coming into this camp. You want to be able to put your best foot forward starting this weekend.”
His performance on the ice Wednesday was indicative of that sentiment. While he isn’t the biggest or most physical presence on the ice, the 5-foot-11 Farinacci is a skillful and reliable forward who stood out among the rookies. He’s hoping to make an impact this weekend in Buffalo before it gets real next week at training camp.
“I like to show how I can play,” he said. “I think developing my game in Providence last year and over the summer here at Warrior was a big piece for me and going in there and just showing them my game and what I can do and build off of last year.”
Farinacci, originally drafted by the Arizona Coyotes as a third-round pick in 2019, was swooped by Boston in 2023 and signed to a two-year entry-level deal. It didn’t take long for Farinacci to prove his mettle, racing to an explosive start in Providence last season that saw him net 17 points in his first 22 games. He finished the campaign with 38 points. While that may be a significant drop in pace, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for Providence head coach Ryan Mougenel.
“The first thing that stands out with John is how he thinks the game,” said Mougenel. “He’s got an extremely high IQ. I think as the season wore on, he wore down a little bit and that’s to be expected, especially guys coming up from college.”
It was uncharted territory for Farinacci, who had never played more than 31 games at the NCAA ranks. He’s been working out in Boston this summer with the Bruins training staff to work on his conditioning and strength.
“Getting used to the pro schedule and the pro grind and all that coming from college,” he said of what he’s learned. “Taking care of the body a little bit better. I didn’t play a ton of hockey in college, so I think just taking care of my body better and being able to play a full season.”
The touted prospect has already unveiled an uncanny ability to finish pucks on the doorstep while acting as a reliable staple to the 200-foot game. And with a potential open roster spot ahead of training camp next week, Farinacci will be in the running to don a new role by October.
“It’s up to you at the end of the day,” he said. “I think if you go and you show them what you can do and you put your best foot forward just like you said with those guys and what they did last year.”
After witnessing the likes of Mason Lohrei and Matt Poitras earn a spot following a successful camp last fall, it is an encouraging sign for players in Farinacci’s shoes who are trying to make a name for themselves.
“If you go into rookie camp and you have a real good rookie camp, it translates into jobs,” said Mougenel. “It says something about the youth movement and how they’ve pushed, so for guys to come into camp and see that it’s tangible and it’s there. It’s right in front of them.”
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