Ottawa – The Ottawa Senators opened the second round of the 2019 Entry Draft by selecting forward Shane Pinto. A late-bloomer, the Long Island area resident will attend the University of North Dakota in the fall, joining fellow Senators prospects defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jonny Tychonick.

Sporting News recently spoke to Pinto during Senators Development Camp to discuss this topic and more.

(Editor’s note: The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)

Sporting News: What was it like for you, sitting with family and friends hearing your name called at the Draft [in Vancouver]?

Shane Pinto: It was a special moment, the kind you dream about when you’re a kid. Just that, with my friends and family, with all the sacrifices they made for me, just to have them there was pretty special.

SN: Day One [of the Draft] you didn’t hear your name, obviously you were expecting it on Day Two. Did you hear any chatter at the Draft on Friday evening?

SP: There were a few little things, that maybe I would (get selected Friday). I tried not to worry about it too much. It was pretty stressful that Day One. When Day Two came around, I say to myself to just enjoy this. It only happens once. I wanted to just relax, and that’s what I did.

SN: You’re committed to the University of North Dakota. You get drafted by the Senators. You hear your name and realize you’ll be playing with possible future NHL teammates, Jacob and Jonny. Now you’ve met them, can you speak about what you can draw from them?

SP: It’s awesome. They’re really good guys. Just to have them here, I can ask questions, kind of pick their brain. They’re kind of guiding me throughout this whole camp. They’ve been awesome to me. So it’s been good.

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SN: Most Senators haven’t had an opportunity to see you play, can you describe what your attributes are as a player?

SP: I’m a big two-way center. I’m good in my defensive zone. I like to win face-offs. I do all the little things well, and I can score. I kind of relate my game to Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets. That’s my best comparison.

SN: Playing in the USHL last season, how did playing in the league assist your development?

SP: Every night there was stiff competition. You couldn’t take a night off. Players were hard and tough to play against, but I think as the year went on, I learned a lot. My game really grew throughout the year. The league was really good for me.

SN: You didn’t start playing competitively until your late teens. Can you explain that?

SP: I actually started playing hockey when I was eight. I didn’t start playing competitively until I was 15. I played around, but I was never serious about it. At 15, I really started playing. That’s when I fell in love with it (the sport). These past three years have been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’m just taking it in stride and kind of enjoying it.

SN: I’ve read that you’re an accomplished athlete, and have golfed at the Beth Page Black course. Can you speak about your affinity for sports?

SP: I’m a huge golfer. I love to golf. That’s all I pretty much do. I work out, skate, and usually try to golf. I used to play baseball and football growing up. I’m a pretty multi-sport athlete, but hockey is my favourite.

SN: You’re from the Long Island, NY area, and you “were” a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, now a Senators fan, how did that happen?

SP: I’m an Ottawa fan now. I was eight when I started playing and watching hockey. That’s when [Sidney] Crosby won the Cup. I just fell in love with him and the whole team, the way they played. That’s just kind of how it worked out.