Quentin Shore Rumor Via Twitter Raises Red Flags

(above) Click to enlarge

Quentin Shore

A Twitter Post last night by The Hockey News writer Ryan Kennedy sent shock waves through PioNation.  Kennedy certainly has sources throughout major junior and collegiate hockey.  He is the author or the weekly "The Hockey News Hot List" that profiles up and coming junior players that readers should keep an eye on.

If any DU player was interested in transferring to a major junior team, it would come as a mild surprise.  But the Shore family is anchored to the University of Denver as can be.  Quentin's older brother Drew attended DU and is the second leading scorer [5g,10a] for the AHL San Antonio Rampage this winter.  Second eldest brother Nick is the leading scorer [6g,12a] for the Pioneers this season.  Youngest brother Baker plays youth hockey and is on DU's recruiting radar.  Finally both parents graduated from DU's Law School.

The University of Denver is on its annual academic Christmas Break [Thanksgiving to New Years] the timing is certainly right for a player looking to make the jump to Major Juniors.  In the past DU defenesemen William Wrenn and T.J. Fast left DU after the academic Fall Quarter.  However in both instances it was after DU had completed the first half of the season.

Could Quentin Shore have struggled academically in the Fall Quarter and decided that college wasn't for him?  "Unlikely" said an unnamed source with knowledge of the Shore brothers and their family.

Possible Quentin Shore ties to the WHL Portland Winterhawks include star defenseman Seth Jones.  Jones is the likely #1 or #2 overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.  Shore & Jones were close friends on the USNDT for two years in Ann Arbor.
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Quentin Shore is the 9th leading scorer [3g,4a] for the Pioneers this season and centers DU's third line. Although he is logging plenty of minutes this season, perhaps he is unhappy with DU's power player situation or minutes?  DU has been rolling three D-men on the first unit all season, and after a torrid start, the first power play unit has been silent lately in addition to giving up three shorthanded goals in recent weeks.

Quentin Shore was not drafted by an NHL team last summer.  Perhaps he feels he needs to crank up the stats and showcase his skills in the wide open Western Hockey League to raise his stock next summer in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Which brings us to Kennedy's Twitter Post last night.  Its possible that Portland encouraged Seth Jones to reach out to Quentin to see if he was interested.  Or its possible that the Shore family reached out to the Winterhawks to evaluate their options going forward.  Either way, expect DU to quickly try and quell this rumor with the North Dakota series upcoming this weekend.

The longer questions remain unanswered, the higher the possibility that the rumor is true.

Tweets From Around PioNation

(above) 13 year-old Baker Shore already has several NHL players following his tweets

Drew Shore Signs Contract With Florida Panthers

"The Florida Panthers signed 21-year-old prospect Drew Shore to an entry-level contract Monday, three days after Shore's University of Denver team was eliminated in the NCAA hockey tournament. Heralded as one of the top prospects in the Panthers' organization, the American tallied 22 goals and 31 assists in 42 games for Denver in 2011-12. Shore, a second-round pick in 2009, bypassed his senior season and a chance at free agency to sign with the Panthers."

From: Sun Sentinal

According to Western College Hockey & various other outlets, Drew Shore signed a professional contract today with the Florida Panthers of the NHL.

Shore scored 50 goals and had 68 assists in three seasons with the Pioneers. He led the team in scoring in both his Sophomore and Junior seasons and anchored a power play unit that improved markedly this season.  He scored 12 game winning goals during his career at DU.

Shore's biggest contribution may have been blazing a trail for his brothers at DU.  Nick has been a solid contributor in his first two seasons and Quentin will join the team this summer.  Youngest brother Baker is waiting in the wings, but hasn't committed to a school yet.

Tweets From Around PioNation-Valentine's Edition

News, Notes & Photos From Around PioNation

(above) Denver Post columnist Terry Frei, who has written several articles about the DU hockey program in recent weeks, is discussing and signing his newest book tonight (Mon. Nov. 29, 6 pm) at the Denver Press Club's “Book Beat" (1330 Glenarm Place, Denver). Its a free event, open to the public and no RSVP necessary. "Playing Piano in a Brothel" takes readers behind the scenes of several high-profile sports stories, including the CU football controversies. Wear a DU hockey shirt, mention to Terry that you read LetsGoDU and buy a few copies as Xmas presents.

(above) Pat Rooney has a profile on DU player Dustin Jackson, who has been a huge contributor since returning to the lineup

(above) DU Alum Rhett Rakhshani reaches for the puck after falling during Friday's game for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Rhett has 7 goals & 9 assists in 23 AHL games this season

(above) ESPN.com has a series of articles on some of free-skiing's most stand-out females. ESPN profiled DU alum Keri Herman, who didn't start skiing until she came to DU in 2004. Herman took silver medals in slopestyle at both the 2010 Winter X Games in Aspen and the European X Games in Tignes, France.

(above) USA Hockey had a profile last week on the Shore brothers. Drew & Nick play at DU. Quentin is making up his mind on his collegiate future. Youngest brother Baker, is in the pipeline.

The Hockey News Profiles Shore Family

(left) L to R Nick, Drew, Baker & Quentin Shore

From: The Hockey News
by Ryan Kennedy

Hockey has always been a family game, from the Howes to the Sutters to the Staals. Now a clan from Colorado is staking its claim. The Shore boys – Drew (19), Nick (17), Quentin (16) and Baker (11) are quickly establishing a pedigree for excellence in the Rocky Mountain State.

And while hockey has taken the boys all over America in the past few years, the family did get a chance to bond together again in Ontario’s Muskoka region this summer – the province’s premier cottage country.

“We haven’t done it in a while,” Nick said. “It was pretty chaotic.”

Not that growing up in a household of four boys was ever quiet, but there were also some fun benefits.

“It was definitely enough for my parents,” Drew laughed. “There was always something to do, always someone to shoot pucks with.”

Drew, entering his sophomore season with the University of Denver Pioneers, is a second round draft pick of the Florida Panthers (44th overall in 2009) and will be joined on the Pios this year by brother Nick. And while Drew let Nick choose his own path, he’s certainly happy to have his brother joining the team.

“Secretly I wanted him at Denver,” Drew said. “Not just because he’s a great player, but he’s one of my best friends.”

The two both went through the U.S. national team development program, though they played on different squads. Nonetheless, the Shore boys did team up as roommates one year.

“It made the transition easier,” Nick said.

And while the pair enjoyed each other’s company, brothers will be brothers.

“I tried to control the TV remote, but he tried to control it, too,” Drew said. “And we would play ping-pong to see who got to drive the next day.”

Nick and Drew stayed with billets in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the NTDP is headquartered, and, ironically, brother Quentin will also bunk with that family this year when he joins the program.

But this being Nick’s draft year, the focus will shift to the second eldest. Finishing with a solid 20 points in 26 games against United States League competition last year, Nick also boasted a nice plus-14 rating. Much like Drew, he has decent size (six-foot, 190 pounds) and offensive capabilities. How does he excel on the ice?

“I’d say my shot and my hockey sense,” Nick noted. “I’ve always tried to work on my skating and I think it’s improving a lot, too.”

At the NHL’s research and development camp this August, Nick was put on essentially the top line for his squad, playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog. Though he played on the wing there, he is most comfortable as a center.

“It was pretty cool to try out the new rules,” Nick said.

But the big stage is still waiting. As a late birthday, Nick will get to impress NHL scouts against NCAA competition, some of which will be several years older than him. And fortunately, he won’t have to do everything himself. Other incoming freshmen include Nick’s future dorm roommate and Pittsburgh first-rounder Beau Bennett (20th overall, 2010), world juniors gold medalist Jason Zucker (Minnesota, 59th overall, ’10) and goaltender Sam Brittain (Florida, 92nd overall, ’10). He’ll also have a motivated older brother, still stinging from an opening round upset last year at the hands of RIT at the Frozen Four.

“Last season didn’t end up the way we wanted,” Drew said, adding a silver lining: “I didn’t put up the offensive numbers I wanted to, but I benefited from the veterans who passed their experience on to me.”

As for advice for brother Nick, Drew is already on top of it.

“It’s his draft year and that can make you uptight and nervous,” Drew said. “He just needs to focus on what he can control.”

Meanwhile, Nick offers up a scouting report on the next Shore lined up for the spotlight, incoming NTDPer Quentin.

“He’s a tall center who’s good at both ends of the ice,” Nick said.

And in a couple years from now, we can ask Quentin what the hockey world can expect from Baker. It’s all in the family for the Shores.