"It's their competitveness": Sens' Shane Pinto inspired by Sidney Crosby & Nathan MacKinnon's specific Game 7 Stanley Cup Final-like trait

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 03, 2024 04:35 GMT

Sidney Crosby has become a new source of inspiration for Shane Pinto as he moves to the next stage of his NHL career. This summer, Pinto and his teammate Drake Batherson had the chance to train with Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, two of the league’s best players.

For Pinto, it wasn’t just about picking up new skills. It was about seeing how competitive Crosby and MacKinnon are, even during casual practices. Their focus made him think of a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals.

“It's their competitiveness,” Pinto said (via sportsnet.com) “It's a summer skate, but they're going at it like it’s a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.”

As a kid, Pinto looked up to Crosby, and training with him felt like a dream-come-true. He remembered watching Crosby lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cups in a row, and now, seeing his dedication in person made a strong impact.

“Holy, oh my god, it's Sidney Crosby!" Pinto added. “That's when I really fell in love with hockey, watching those playoff series, and it all came full circle this summer, just meeting him. It was definitely pretty cool."

Sidney Crosby’s work ethic and attention to detail stood out to both Pinto and Batherson.

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Sidney Crosby’s winning mentality inspires Senators’ Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson for future success

Drake Batherson, who has trained with Crosby and MacKinnon for years, said their mindset is always focused on winning.

“I think, with Sid and Nate, it's all about winning,” Batherson said. “That's all they talk about. It's all they care about.”

This drive shows up in both summer scrimmages and real NHL games. Pinto said the lessons he learned went beyond tactics. Crosby and MacKinnon’s intensity and passion for hockey made the biggest impression on him.

“He's a pretty open book,” Batherson added. “You can ask him anything and talk about plays. Both him and Nate love the game, and they love chatting about hockey. So, I asked him questions all the time.”

Shane Pinto also plans to return to Halifax next summer to continue training with Crosby and MacKinnon.

“When I was leaving Halifax, I'm like, ‘I'm going to come back here for a month next summer’,” Pinto mentioned to Batherson.

He believes these experiences will help him improve and become more consistent. Senators fans share this hope as Pinto and Batherson aim to use what they've learned from Crosby and MacKinnon to help the team succeed.