2 NY Islanders prospects will play in the world's oldest invitational hockey tournament this holiday season

After winning a Gold Medal together at the 2024 World Junior Championship, NY Islanders prospects Danny Nelson and Quinn Finley have been playing for their respective NCAA teams, with Nelson winning a second Gold Medal at the 2025 rendition of the tournament.

Come this holiday season, Nelson and Finley will be teammates once again, playing in the world's oldest invitation hockey tournament.

Nelson and Finley will represent the US Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup, hosted annually in Davos, Switzerland. 

Nelson and Finley to play in the Spengler Cup

Nelson, playing collegiately at Notre Dame, was selected 49th overall by the Islanders in 2024. In the midst of his junior season with the Fighting Irish, Nelson has scored three goals while adding three assists through 11 games as the Golden Domers have struggled to begin the season, starting 3-7-1.

Finley, selected 78th overall in 2022, is a junior at the University of Wisconsin. After a 40-point (20 G, 20 A) sophomore campaign, Finley is having a similar start to this season, recording five points and five assists through 11 games.

The US Collegiate Selects will be the first team made up of NCAA players to participate in the Spengler Cup since 1982, when the University of North Dakota made the trip to Switzerland.

“We want to bring the Cup home!” Steve Metcalf, the Collegiate Selects’ GM, said. “We know we have some outstanding players and hope they can quickly grow together into a true team. We are convinced that we’ll be fielding a very competitive squad.”

The US Collegiate Selects will begin pool play on Dec. 26 against Team Canada. While they’re facing off against the Canadians, this team won’t be made up of NHLers, but instead of Canadians playing across European leagues.

Next, they’ll either take on the host team, HC Davos (SUI) or HIFK (FIN). The Final will be held on New Year’s Eve.