Shane Pinto
Pinto with the Ottawa Senators in 2023
Born (2000-11-12) November 12, 2000
Franklin Square, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team Ottawa Senators
NHL Draft 32nd overall, 2019
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2021–present

Shane Pinto (born November 12, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 32nd overall by the Senators, the first pick in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In October 2023, he was suspended 41 games by the NHL for violating league gambling rules.

Early life

Pinto was born November 12, 2000, in Franklin Square, New York.[1] He grew up in an athletic household: his father Frank grew up playing baseball, while his mother Catherine and older sister Brianna both played softball.[2][3] Pinto began ice skating at the age of seven and joined his first organized hockey team two years later, but he preferred baseball and American football to ice hockey.[3][4] He did not make the decision to focus on hockey until the age of 14, when Pinto suffered a clavicle fracture during football practice that left him temporarily unable to play another sport.[3]

Pinto spent most of his minor ice hockey career with the Brooklyn Aviators, a second-tier team in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).[5] At the age of 12, he helped lead his Aviators team to a state championship.[6] After two years at H. Frank Carey Junior-Senior High School in Franklin Square, Pinto left for South Kent School in Connecticut to further his ice hockey career. In his final season there, he recorded 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points in 54 games and was part of the 2018 USA Hockey National Championship team.[7][8]

Playing career

Junior

After the 2016–17 season, Pinto was drafted in the 21st round, 330th overall, by the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[4] He then joined the USHL for the 2018–19 regular season where he quickly began producing for the Stars. Through his first 30 games in the league, Pinto tallied 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points while also leading all rookies with six power-play goals. In January 2019, Pinto was traded to the Tri-City Storm in exchange for Michael Colella, a 2019 third-round Phase II draft pick, a 2020 second-round Phase II draft pick, and future considerations.[9] Pinto was named to the USHL all-rookie team in 2019 after leading all first-year players with 59 points in 59 games.[10]

Collegiate

Pinto committed to playing the 2019–20 season with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and was considered the top recruit for that year's incoming freshman class.[11]

During his first development camp with the Ottawa Senators, Pinto impressed scouts with his play, and after completing his sophomore season with the Fighting Hawks, Pinto concluded his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2021.[12]

Professional

After undergoing the mandatory quarantining period,[12] Pinto made his NHL debut late in the 2020–21 season and scored his first goal on May 5, 2021, against the Montreal Canadiens against Jake Allen.[13] He finished the season tallying one goal and six assists.[14] Pinto later participated in rookie camp a few months later in September, where he was appointed team captain for one game.[15] Pinto missed nearly the entire 2021–22 season due to injuries. During his fourth game of the year, he was hit into the boards by Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks and left with a shoulder injury. He attempted to return nine games later against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but reinjured the same shoulder while taking a faceoff. He ended up having surgery and missed the rest of the year.[16]

Pinto recovered on time to start the 2022–23 season and got off to a hot start. In October he was named the NHL's rookie of the month after scoring six goals in eight games.[17] He finished the season with 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games.[18]

As a restricted free agent, a contract dispute led Pinto to miss the entire 2023 training camp and the first weeks of the 2023–24 season.[19] On October 26, 2023, the NHL suspended Pinto 41 games for violating the league's rules on sports gambling. Although the NHL indicated that no evidence was found on him of wagering on NHL games, the suspension (one of the longest in league history), was the result of a negotiation between Pinto, the NHL Players' Association, and the league, and was not the result of a formal disciplinary process; Pinto subsequently released a statement apologizing for his infraction.[20][21] Pinto had been under investigation since the early summer, after a NHL betting partner had flagged issues with Pinto's account details with the league, and Pinto had also been reported to have had connections with a third-party proxy bettor.[21] Because Pinto was unsigned at the time that the suspension was awarded, the penalty cannot begin until he and the Senators agree to terms on a contract.[22]

International play

Pinto was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team for the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[23] Pinto enjoyed early success for the team, being named the player of the game for the opening game of the tournament against Canada men's national junior ice hockey team after scoring two goals and getting an assist.[24]

Personal life

Pinto is a golf afficionado who has played on the Bethpage Black Course.[25] Growing up in New York, Pinto was a childhood fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, crediting Sidney Crosby and the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals as inspiration for his ice hockey career.[5][25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2018–19 Lincoln Stars USHL 3017153251 —————
2018–19 Tri-City Storm USHL 2611162712 —————
2019–20 University of North Dakota NCHC 3316122846 —————
2020–21 University of North Dakota NCHC 281517324 —————
2020–21 Ottawa Senators NHL 1216710 —————
2021–22 Ottawa Senators NHL 50112 —————
2022–23 Ottawa Senators NHL 8220153518 —————
NHL totals 9921224330 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2018 United States WJAC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 61124
2020 United States WJC 6th 54372
Junior totals 115496

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
All-NCHC First Team 2020–21 [26]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2020–21 [27]

References

  1. ↑ "Shane Pinto Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ Garrioch, Bruce (April 3, 2021). "Shane Pinto is ready to make the next step to the Ottawa Senators once quarantine comes to an end". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Mendes, Ian (February 22, 2023). "How Shane Pinto's family sparked his unlikely rise to the NHL". The Athletic. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Gray, Tim (October 18, 2018). "Stars' Pinto now loving hockey after late start to the sport". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Scanlan, Wayne (September 15, 2021). "Pinto ready to take his best shot at Senators camp after unique road to NHL". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Aviator hockey star Shane Pinto drafted to the NHL". Aviator Sports and Events Center. June 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Rubin, Roger (April 17, 2021). "Long Island's Shane Pinto: Center of attention for NHL debut with Senators". Newsday. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ "South Kent Alumnus Shane Pinto '18 Excels Again!". South Kent School. April 8, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Storm Acquire Forward Shane Pinto in Trade with Lincoln". Our Sports Central. January 23, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Awards - USHL All-Rookie Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ "North Dakota announces six newcomers to 2019–20 roster". The Mighty 790 KFGO. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Ottawa Senators sign forward Shane Pinto to entry-level contract". Ottawa Senators. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  13. ↑ Tidcombe, Matt (May 5, 2021). "Pinto scores first NHL goal as Sens beat Canadiens". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  14. ↑ "Shane Pinto". Elite Prospects. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  15. ↑ Tidcombe, Matt (September 19, 2021). "Pinto wears 'C' during rookie game". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  16. ↑ Tidcombe, Matt (November 30, 2021). "Pinto out for foreseeable future with shoulder injury". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved November 25, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  17. ↑ Schlossman, Brad Elliott (November 2, 2022). "Shane Pinto named NHL's Rookie of the Month". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ Fraser, Callum (September 20, 2023). "Senators optimistic they'll sign Pinto to contract soon". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  19. ↑ Richardson, Lyle (October 19, 2023). "Shane Pinto's Contract Saga Drags on in Ottawa". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  20. ↑ Friedman, Elliotte (October 26, 2023). "Senators' Pinto to be suspended 41 games for violating NHL gambling rules". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Johnson, Chris (October 27, 2023). "Johnston: What I'm hearing about the Shane Pinto suspension and what comes next". The Athletic. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  22. ↑ Garrioch, Bruce (October 26, 2023). "Senators centre Shane Pinto suspended for gambling violations". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  23. ↑ "2020 U.S. National Junior Team Roster Announced". Team USA Hockey. December 23, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Canada vs. USA: 2020 prospect Alexis Lafreniere dazzles as Canada defeats rival at 2020 World Juniors". The Sporting News. 12 August 2021.
  25. 1 2 Pam, Murray (June 27, 2019). "SN Q&A: Senators' prospect Shane Pinto on being drafted, his late start to competitive hockey and the USHL". The Sporting News. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ "North Dakota Paces 2020-21 NCHC All-Conference Teams". nchchockey.com. March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Taylor Ward
 NCHC Rookie of the Year
2019–20		 Succeeded by
Veeti Miettinen
Preceded by NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year
2020–21		 Succeeded by
Connor Ford
Preceded by NCHC Forward of the Year
2020–21		 Succeeded by
Preceded by NCHC Player of the Year
2020–21		 Succeeded by
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