B-Sens Profile: Shane Prince

Shane Prince is becoming one of my favorite hockey players to watch for on the current Binghamton Senators. Besides the talent, underneath lies a person with strong work ethics, who practices hard and has a great overall attitude.

The 20-year-old 5′ 10″ 181 lb from Spencerport, NY was chosen by the Ottawa Senators in the 2nd round of 2011. He signed a three-year entry-level contract in July, 2012 and spent his first professional season in Binghamton producing 18 goals and 17 assists with a +12 in 65 games and scoring a goal in the playoffs as well.

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Ulmer

-Prince leads the Ottawa 67’s to the playoffs four straight seasons

He was traded midway in his first season in the OHL from Kitchener Rangers to the Ottawa 67’s. His phenomenal breakout began in 2011-’12 having career high in points (90) and goals (43)  in 57 games, a +34 and 2nd on the team in points behind Tyler Toffoli (100) in 65 games. He also added 16 points in 18 games in the playoffs as the 67’s lost to the Niagara IceDogs 4 games to 1 in the Conference Finals. Prince also played for Tier I AAA Syracuse Stars in 2007-’08. (Earlier this summer I was in Syracuse watching my nephew tryout in the 13-year-old triple A  section and noticed his name on one of the rink’s wall.)

Senators director of player personnel Pierre Dorion has high standards as quoted from the NHL.com;

"“He’s a highly-skilled forward,” Dorion said. “He’s shifty, he has quickness and he can shoot the puck. I call him a double threat offensively, because he can make plays and he can score.”"

The left winger is quick on his feet, pesky around the net, and is skilled with the puck on creating offensive opportunities. He needs to bulk up some or he’ll get bounced around in the NHL but his love for the game is undeniable. Will Prince make it to the big show? Perhaps his speed and talent will help get him there. Besides, he now fights after taking on Pittsburgh Penquins property pesk Bobby Farnham in the rookie tournament and he did handle his own with the take down.

Coach Luke Richardson likes to run four balanced lines and mixes them up as there seems to be some kind of tweak in his line up card on any given night. He mostly played with recently traded Pat Cannone at center but also Stephane Da Costa, as well as wingers Mark Stone and Cole Schneider. Although B-Sens fans might luck out and get to see a Prince-Jean-Gabriel Pageau–Andre Petersson on that line up card as the ‘Triple P’s’ in the very near future, which could raise havoc on the AHL.

-Prince is now a part of the enemy he rooted against growing up

The ironic thing about Prince playing in Bingo is the Rochester, NY native grew up a Rochester Americans fan in the long-standing, hated rivalry with Binghamton watching tilts against Whalers, Rangers and now Senators teams. He did however downplay it in a post game interview for good reasons. When asked, “how strange was it to play against that sweater? ” Shane responded, “I don’t know about strange it was pretty cool though, it’s a, obviously growing up in that city is the team I watched and looked up to and to be able play against them was awesome and to score against them is even better.”

Bottom line it’s a win-win situation for Bingo fans. Not only do we get to see him develop for Ottawa but also enjoy seeing him put up the points against Rochester right from the heart of downtown Binghamton.

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Shane Prince – It’s about passion, It’s about winning

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Next Up: Defenseman Cody Ceci