In the State of Hockey, where winters are long and hockey rinks feel like second homes, the Spehar brothers, Sam and Finn, honed not just their skills on the ice but a bond that now defines their careers.

Finn Spehar, the younger of the two, is quickly turning heads in the lead up to his first season in the Western Hockey League. His older brother, Sam, has been more than a sibling. He is a mentor, a role model, and now, once again, a teammate.

Finn’s 2024–25 season with the Sioux Falls Power 16U team was one for the books. The 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds forward tallied 19 goals and 39 assists for a team-best 58 points. It was a year that helped him find his identity as a player and one that reignited his bond with Sam, who played for the nearby Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL.

“I think being able to have a brother like him and have that resource – I’m just so lucky,” Finn told PuckPreps. “Being around him just pushed me to train even harder and work on my shot, my hands, and my skills. I'm so grateful to be able to have him, and he's a huge piece to the player and person I am today.”

That influence translated to a sharp rise in performance. Having Sam around for training, skating with him in high-level college groups, and watching his discipline firsthand helped Finn push the boundaries of his own game.

Though Finn was drafted in the 2025 USHL Phase I Draft by the Fargo Force and Sam was traded there too, the brothers chose a different path. After evaluating all their options with their family, Finn opted to sign with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL, a move that, at the time, was somewhat of an unconventional path for an American-born player.

“It was a super tough decision,” Finn admitted. “But having the opportunity to play for Portland, which is such a well-respected organization throughout the CHL, I just think was almost a no-brainer for me.”

Finn Spehar is Portland-bound ‼️

The 2009-born forward signed his WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement with the Winterhawks.

Welcome, Finn!

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— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) April 23, 2025

Sam, who had the opportunity to begin his collegiate career at Denver, chose instead to follow his younger brother to Portland for one more year together. That decision meant the world to Finn.

“Being in major junior, I couldn’t ask for a better role model,” he said of his older brother. “And especially having a family member just makes you feel so much more comfortable in an environment.”

Now living together in Portland with another Minnesotan billet roommate, the Spehar brothers’ bond continues to grow off the ice, even as they chase individual and team goals.

Their chemistry showed early in preseason games, where the two brothers combined for three goals and six points in four exhibition contests. Sam centered a line that included Finn on the right wing, a position that he’s surely found a home.

“Being a wing fits my game just because I'm able to have the puck a little more,” said Finn. I'm able to be more offensive than a center in certain situations. I love [playing] center, but I think as I've gotten older, I think right wing is starting to touch my heart for sure.”

A self-described skilled playmaking forward, Finn loves to carry the puck, make quick decisions, and create chances especially with his speed. He is developing a stronger scoring touch but still leads with vision and puck movement.

“I have a pass first mentality, but when the opportunity to shoot there, I will never pass that up,” said Finn. “I have to work on scoring some more goals a little bit to kind of balance out the ratio of my production.”

He models aspects of his game on NHL stars like Will Smith of the San Jose Sharks and elite prospects like LJ Mooney, especially their ability to accelerate, turn quickly, and create offense from anywhere. But Finn also sees his brother as a blueprint for success, having spent hours training together.

Earlier this year, Finn participated in the NTDP Evaluation Camp, a respected opportunity for any American-born player. He was not selected to the National Team Development Program’s roster, but rather than being discouraged, Finn used that as fuel for this season.

“Obviously not making the NTDP was a little frustrating, as it was a goal of mine for a while,” Finn said. “But you can only control what happens in the future. So I could not be more excited to be in Portland.”

While Finn is focused entirely on his WHL season ahead, college hockey remains at the forefront and it’s a decision he isn’t taking lightly. The University of Denver, where Sam is committed, remains an option in the future and a tempting one at that.

“If the opportunity presents itself to be at Denver, I think that would be just so special,” he said.

He has already toured the school on Sam’s official visit and was impressed by the coaching staff and the overall culture. For now, however, the objective remains clear, which is to focus on his time in Portland.

What distinguishes the story of the Spehar brothers is not merely their statistics or the decisions they have made. It is the depth of their bond and the way they have approached their journeys not only as individuals, but as brothers.

Whether they are competing on the ice, sharing a home in a new city, or navigating the complexities of junior and collegiate hockey, Finn and Sam are creating a shared experience that few have the chance to live.

For Finn, the significance of that connection is unmistakable.

"Having him here with me is so special," he said. "And I cannot wait to see the things that we will do this year.”