A hand-drawn calendar on the kitchen wall of a 23-year-old NHL player bore witness to an extraordinary countdown. The countdown mirrored the anticipation of an inmate awaiting release. Shane Pinto, the ice hockey center and Ottawa Senators’ rising star, has paved his way back to the icy battlefield after 87 days. After a challenging suspension for allegedly violating NHL gambling rules, Pinto is back in the game with the unwavering support of his family.

The last three months for Pinto’s family have been dictated by the makeshift calendar. As the final days came nearer, Pinto’s return became a family affair. His parents, Frank and Catherine, took on crossing off the boxes as the anticipation among fans reached its peak. This unity extended to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Along with Pinto’s parents, his grandfather was all decked up, wearing a Senators jersey to witness the emotional return of his grandchild firsthand.

Shane Pinto’s return to NHL glory with family’s love and blessings 

Shane Pinto’s suspension from the NHL was announced last year in October. Pinto dedicatedly followed the ritual of maintaining a calendar. With the passage of every single day, he crossed off a box and waited with bated breath for the third Sunday of 2024, January 21. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s just good to be back,” said Pinto. “I got my first game over with, now I can just focus on hockey.” But beside the young player, his family stood as strong pillars of support.

Pinto’s parents, Frank and Catherine, shared their thoughts with The Athletic in a recently conducted interview. Frank shared that the task of maintaining the calendar fell on their shoulders when Pinto left Franklin Square for Ottawa to resume his practice sessions. Although Frank and Catherine meticulously execute the task, they reserve the final touch for Pinto to allow him to enjoy the satisfactory feeling of crossing off the last day of the hiatus. It was left as an honor for the young ice hockey center when he returned home during the All-Star break.

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It was finally the much-awaited D-Day for the Pinto family. On January 21 morning, Frank drove his family from Long Island to Philadelphia to witness the return of Pinto in the rink live. Frank’s mother and his daughter, Brianna, accompanied him. They were way too proud to see Pinto back in the Ottawa line-up.

Brianna kept track of every passing second in a countdown app. Frank said, “We all did the countdown of days to this moment”. But what was even more special for Shane and his family was that his grandfather flew to Florida to witness his grandson play. He was adorned in a black Senators’ 57 Jersey with his grandson’s name on it. To acknowledge his grandfather, Pinto tossed a puck over the glass to his grandfather. The puck has made its place in the collection of their family heirloom. 

After the 5-3 victory of the Senators over the Flyers, he shared, “It was awesome. Just to have my grandpa here from Florida. He’s getting older now, so those kind of moments are special. You can’t take that for granted, so it was definitely pretty cool”. 

Suspenseful countdown, family unity, and NHL victory

Pinto’s mother, Catherine, flew with the fellow moms of the Senators from Ottawa to Philadelphia. Catherine witnessed the game from inside a luxurious suite in the 200-level of the arena while Pinto’s other family members were seated at 100-level of the Wells Fargo Center.

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After the suspension of Shane, the family was left disheartened. Narrating Pinto’s situation, his father said, “It was like he was in mourning”. But with an unyielding passion, Pinto was gearing up for his return. Frank added, “He’s back now”.

From the highs of pre-game rituals to the heartwarming gesture of a tossed puck to his grandfather, Shane Pinto’s comeback transcends the boundaries of the rink. The tale unraveled as a narrative woven with familial bonds, determination, and the triumphant return of the 23-year-old NFL star.

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