Shane Pinto Bio
Shane Pinto is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a center for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. Born November 12, 2000, in Franklin Square, New York, Pinto was selected 32nd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and began his NHL career after signing an entry-level contract in April 2021.
Early Life and Background
Shane Pinto grew up in Franklin Square, New York, in an athletic household where his father Frank played baseball and his mother Catherine and older sister Brianna played softball. Pinto began ice skating at seven and joined organized hockey at nine, but he stayed involved in multiple sports and did not commit fully to hockey until age 14 following a clavicle fracture sustained in football that temporarily sidelined him from other sports.
Pinto developed through local programs and spent significant time with the Brooklyn Aviators in the United States Premier Hockey League, helping a youth team to a state championship at age 12. He later attended H. Frank Carey Junior-Senior High School before transferring to South Kent School in Connecticut to advance his hockey development, recording 65 points in 54 games in his final prep season and contributing to a USA Hockey National Championship team.
Path to Hockey
Pinto moved through the junior ranks after being selected in the 21st round of the USHL draft and joining the Lincoln Stars for the 2018–19 season, where he produced consistently and then was traded to the Tri-City Storm. He led all USHL rookies in power play goals and finished his first full USHL season with 59 points in 59 games, earning a place on the USHL All-Rookie First Team.
Following his USHL season, Pinto committed to the University of North Dakota, where he was considered a top recruit for the 2019–20 incoming freshman class. His collegiate play established him as a two-way forward with scoring ability and competitive drive, setting the stage for his selection early in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Shane Pinto Career
Early Career (2016–2021)
Pinto’s early career combined strong junior performance and rapid collegiate development. After a breakout junior season with the Tri-City Storm and recognition as a top USHL rookie, he joined the North Dakota Fighting Hawks for the 2019–20 season and recorded 16 goals and 28 points in 33 games as a freshman, then followed with 15 goals and 32 points in 28 games in a pandemic-shortened sophomore year.
North Dakota captured the NCHC regular-season title and a Penrose Cup during Pinto’s sophomore season, and Pinto collected multiple NCHC honors including unanimous Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, and Defensive Forward of the Year, underscoring his two-way impact before signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2021.
North Dakota Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Pinto’s collegiate breakthrough combined offensive production with defensive responsibility and postseason exposure. His sophomore season saw North Dakota reach the 2021 NCAA tournament and contest the longest game in tournament history, where Pinto and his teammates advanced to the regional round before elimination in extended overtime, a run that highlighted Pinto’s readiness for professional competition.
At North Dakota Pinto earned conference-wide recognition and awards that reflected both his scoring and his defensive contributions, and his sustained play over two seasons convinced Ottawa to sign him and accelerate his transition to the professional ranks.
Ottawa Senators Era (2021–Present)
Pinto made his NHL debut late in the 2020–21 season and scored his first NHL goal on May 5, 2021, against the Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Jake Allen. He finished that initial NHL stint with one goal and six assists and returned for rookie camp the following autumn where he briefly served as team captain for a rookie-game assignment.
The 2021–22 season was largely lost to a shoulder injury that required surgery after re-injury early in the campaign, limiting Pinto to five games. He returned fully for the 2022–23 season, earning NHL Rookie of the Month honors in October after scoring six goals in eight games and finishing the season with 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games.
Contract negotiations and a disciplinary matter affected the opening months of the 2023–24 season, resulting in a 41-game NHL suspension issued October 26, 2023, related to a violation of league gambling rules. Pinto signed a one-year contract with the Senators on January 19, 2024, returned to the lineup on January 21 and produced several multi-point performances that season, including three-point and four-point games that demonstrated his playmaking capacity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pinto plays as a physical, two-way center who combines a scoring instinct with responsible defensive play. He is effective on the penalty kill and on power-play opportunities, demonstrating an ability to finish around the net while engaging in the board battles and faceoffs that anchor his role as a middle-six forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Pinto’s career include his 32nd overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, his first NHL goal on May 5, 2021, his NCHC unanimous Player of the Year award at North Dakota, an NHL Rookie of the Month honor in October 2022, and his 41-game suspension in October 2023 followed by a return to play in January 2024. Multi-point NHL games in 2024 and 2025 marked notable offensive highs.
Shane Pinto Career Wins
Across junior, collegiate and professional levels Pinto has recorded milestone offensive performances that track his progression from top USHL rookie to productive NHL center. His scoring totals increased steadily through collegiate play and into full NHL seasons, culminating in consistent goal production in the 2022–23, 2024–25 and 2025–26 campaigns.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL Pinto recorded his first goal during his debut season in 2021 and established himself as a 20-plus goal scorer in the 2022–23 season with 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games. He followed that with a 21-goal, 37-point performance in 70 games during the 2024–25 season and continued to be a regular offensive contributor into the following season with 23 goals and 46 points in 72 games.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In junior play Pinto led first-year USHL players with 59 points in 59 games and earned USHL All-Rookie First Team honors. At the collegiate level he was a multi-award NCHC honoree, helping North Dakota to a conference title and deep postseason exposure before turning professional.
Shane Pinto Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pinto’s family supported athletics during his upbringing in New York, with a father who played baseball and a mother and older sister who played softball. That family athleticism provided a foundation while Pinto pursued hockey through local clubs, prep school and junior development leagues.
Personal Life
Pinto is known to enjoy golf and has played notable courses such as Bethpage Black. He grew up as a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and has cited Sidney Crosby and the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals as early inspirations for his hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season saw Pinto play a central role on Ottawa’s third line, often matched against opponents’ top lines and delivering a reliable two-way presence while producing 21 goals and 37 points in 70 games. Pinto made his NHL playoff debut in April 2025 and scored his first playoff goal that month in a shorthanded situation, finishing the series with one goal and two points as the Senators were eliminated in six games.
That season reinforced Pinto’s reputation as a physical, productive middle-six center capable of influencing special teams and contributing timely offense, and it set the stage for his continued role in Ottawa’s forward group as he moved into subsequent campaigns.