John Farinacci Bio
John Farinacci (born February 14, 2001) is an American ice hockey forward currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 184 pounds, he skates with a steady, two-way style that has carried him from New Jersey prep rinks to one of college hockey’s most storied programs and now into the professional ranks. Drafted 76th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Farinacci chose the collegiate route and built his game at Harvard before turning professional with the Bruins organization.
Early Life and Background
John Farinacci was born on February 14, 2001, in Red Bank, New Jersey, and grew up in a family with deep ties to competitive ice hockey. The sport surrounded him from an early age, and the network of relatives who played and coached at high levels helped shape his understanding of the game. That environment gave him both motivation and access to strong coaching, laying the groundwork for a development path that would take him through several elite prep programs.
Raised in Red Bank, Farinacci began his prep hockey career at the Delbarton School before transferring to Shattuck-Saint Mary’s. Following his sophomore year, he moved again to the Dexter Southfield School for his final two years of high school. During his senior year at Dexter Southfield, he was named team captain of the hockey team, a sign of the leadership qualities that would later mark his time at Harvard. His progression through these respected programs helped him gain visibility leading into the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Path to Hockey
Farinacci entered the national spotlight when the Arizona Coyotes selected him 76th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Rather than jump to a major junior or professional league, he committed to Harvard University, joining the Crimson for the 2019–20 season. The decision gave him the chance to develop against older, more physical competition while continuing his education at one of the country’s most academically demanding institutions.
His freshman season with Harvard showed immediate promise. Farinacci scored 10 goals and added 12 assists for 22 points in 31 games, quickly establishing himself as a reliable contributor. The COVID-19 pandemic cut his freshman campaign short, however, as the 2020 ECAC Hockey Tournament was cancelled. When the Ivy League later cancelled winter sports for the 2020–21 season, Farinacci returned to the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he served as an assistant captain and produced four goals and four assists in seven games. He also represented the United States at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, scoring five goals and two assists in seven games on the way to a gold medal. Those months strengthened his game and prepared him for a leadership role back at Harvard.
John Farinacci Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Across three seasons with the Harvard Crimson, Farinacci grew into one of the program’s central figures. After his freshman year and the disrupted 2020–21 season, he returned to Harvard for 2021–22 and posted 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 29 games, helping the Crimson win the 2022 ECAC Hockey tournament and earn an automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA tournament, where Harvard was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota State Mavericks.
For the 2022–23 season, Farinacci was named captain of the Crimson. A herniated disc forced him to miss the start of the year, but after returning on January 13, 2023, he produced his best statistical college season, scoring five goals and 15 assists in 19 games. He led Harvard to the final of the 2023 ECAC Hockey tournament, where they fell to the Colgate Raiders, and played his final college game in the 2023 NCAA tournament, an 8–1 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in which he scored Harvard’s lone goal. With the Ivy League not offering an extra year of eligibility and Farinacci unwilling to transfer, he turned professional.
Providence Bruins Era (2023–Present)
On April 12, 2023, it was announced that Farinacci would not sign with the Coyotes and would test the free agent market. He became a highly coveted collegiate free agent and signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on August 16, 2023. The Bruins assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, to begin the 2023–24 season. Farinacci stayed in the AHL for the entire year and enjoyed a productive rookie professional campaign, recording 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points in 71 games. He added a goal and an assist in four playoff games, though Providence was eliminated by the Hartford Wolf Pack in four games in the opening round of the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.
Farinacci returned to Providence for the 2024–25 season and remained a consistent contributor at the AHL level. His strong play was rewarded on April 14, 2025, when he received his first career call-up to the NHL Bruins. He made his debut in the Bruins’ final regular-season game against his hometown New Jersey Devils and scored his first NHL goal in that contest. After the game he returned to Providence for the Calder Cup playoffs, where he scored one goal in eight games before the Bruins were eliminated by the Charlotte Checkers in the divisional round. On July 15, 2025, Farinacci signed a one-year, two-way deal to remain with the Bruins organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Farinacci has been valued for his hockey sense, skating, and two-way reliability rather than raw point totals. He reads the play well in all three zones, wins battles along the boards, and creates offense through clean passing. Coaches have leaned on him in leadership roles, including as an assistant captain with the Lumberjacks and as captain of the Crimson, underscoring the trust his teammates and staff place in his preparation and decision-making.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Farinacci’s career are his 2019 NHL Draft selection by the Coyotes, his gold medal with the United States at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and his first NHL goal against the New Jersey Devils in April 2025. Being named captain of the Harvard Crimson and helping the program win the 2022 ECAC Hockey tournament also stand out as signature achievements during his development years.
John Farinacci Career Wins
John Farinacci’s career has been built more on steady production and team success than on a long list of individual trophies. His most celebrated team accomplishment is the gold medal he won with the United States at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the club level, he contributed to Harvard’s 2022 ECAC Hockey tournament championship and reached the 2023 ECAC Hockey tournament final as team captain.
Other Wins and Performances
At the prep level, Farinacci captained Dexter Southfield in his senior year, and at the junior level he served as an assistant captain for the Muskegon Lumberjacks during the 2020–21 USHL season. In the professional ranks, his first NHL goal against the New Jersey Devils marked a significant personal milestone as he transitioned from a productive AHL rookie into a Boston Bruins prospect with NHL experience.
John Farinacci Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ice hockey runs through John Farinacci’s family. He is cousins with Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato, and his uncle, Ted Donato, was his head coach at Harvard. Farinacci is also the brother-in-law of Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, further tying him to a wide network of active NHL players and coaches.
Personal Life
Farinacci grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey, and remains closely connected to that community, as reflected by the excitement surrounding his first NHL game against the New Jersey Devils. He is married into the Tkachuk family, making him brother-in-law to Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk. Farinacci continues to focus on his professional career with the Boston Bruins organization.
2025 Season Performance
Farinacci’s 2025 calendar has been split between the AHL and the NHL. With the Providence Bruins in 2024–25, he served as a steady middle-six forward, producing consistent offense and playing in all situations. His work earned him his first NHL recall on April 14, 2025, when the Bruins brought him up for the final game of the regular season against the New Jersey Devils, a moment that carried extra meaning given his New Jersey roots.
After scoring his first NHL goal in that debut, Farinacci returned to Providence for the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs and recorded one goal in eight games before the Bruins were eliminated by the Charlotte Checkers in the divisional round. On July 15, 2025, he signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Bruins, securing his place within the organization heading into the new campaign.
Looking ahead, Farinacci is expected to begin the 2025–26 season with the Providence Bruins, where he will look to build on his point-per-game production and push for an extended NHL stint. With a clear pathway to Boston and the trust of the Bruins’ development staff, the coming year represents an important opportunity for him to establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor.