An already short-handed Denver club was facing another significant personnel loss. Tuesday night, Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News tweeted that forward Quentin Shore may be leaving school for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
However, a source close to the Shore family confirmed to USCHO Wednesday afternoon that Shore will be staying at Denver.
A freshman center, Shore has recorded three goals and four assists in 14 games for the WCHA-leading Pioneers this season.
Shore has accumulated the majority of his playing time this season as the third-line center for Denver, most recently playing on a line with wingers Ty Loney and Matt Tabrum.
A source indicated that Shore briefly considered the Portland option, due in large part to a potentially increased role offensively as well as on the power play. Additionally, Shore is good friends and former teammates from his time at the U.S. National Team Development Program with Winterhawks star defenseman Seth Jones.
Shore was passed up in last June’s NHL draft despite being ranked as a top-80 North American player by NHL Central Scouting. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Shore is a reliable two-way center with goal-scoring ability.
Ultimately, Shore chose to stick with his commitment to his hometown Pioneers. A native of Denver, Shore’s older brother Nick is an alternate captain of the current team. Shore’s oldest brother Drew played three years for the Pioneers before giving up his final season of eligibility last summer to sign with the Florida Panthers.
Shore is expected to be in the lineup this weekend as Denver travels to Grand Forks, N.D., to take on WCHA rival North Dakota.
The Pioneers’ depth has already been challenged this season. Defenseman Nolan Zajac missed last Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury and defenseman Josiah Didier is out with a high-ankle sprain.
