"Was too busy chirping the Canadian boys": Shane Pinto jokes about being distracted at Senators team practice after USA's WJC victory

Team USA made history at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning their second consecutive gold medal by defeating Finland 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. The thrilling victory sparked excitement among American players, including Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto.

During a Senators practice session, Pinto joked about still being distracted from the previous night's win, telling Ottawa Reporter Claire Hanna (@TSN_sports):

“I was too busy chirping the Canadian boys that we won (the World Junior Gold). Haha. But obviously really cool moment for the USA guys - it’s good stuff.”"

This year's tournament was especially significant for Canada, who hosted the event but were eliminated after a heartbreaking 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Czechia.

The defeat marked the second consecutive year that Hockey Canada's bid for the World Junior Hockey Championship title ended in disappointment, with Czechia proving to be the nemesis once again. In fact, Canada suffered a similar fate last year, losing to Czechia in the quarterfinals.

This year's loss at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday was a stunning upset, eliminating them from medal contention. Notably, this was the first time since 1980 that Hockey Canada failed to compete for a medal in back-to-back World Juniors.

Czechia's tournament journey was marked by a familiar pattern, as they once again fell short in the semifinals, losing 4-1 to the USA. This echoed their semifinal defeat to Sweden last year, where they lost 5-2. However, Czechia managed to exact revenge on Sweden in the bronze medal match, winning 3-2 in a thrilling 14-round shootout - the longest in tournament history. This victory secured Czechia's third consecutive bronze medal.

Earlier, the Senators players later made a special visit to the USA's dressing room at the Canadian Tire Centre, joining the young champions in their locker room celebration following their thrilling victory in the tournament final. Shane Pinto, along with Captain Brady Tkachuk, defenseman Jake Sanderson, and center Josh Norris congratulated the victorious 2025 IIHF World Junior Champions.

Shane Pinto's resurgence key to Ottawa Senators' playoff hopes

NHL: Ottawa Senators at Dallas Stars - Source: Imagn

Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto has continued to play a vital role for his team this season. Despite serving one of the longest suspensions in league history last season - 41 games - for violating the NHL's sports gambling rules, Pinto has bounced back strongly.

Since returning from his suspension in January last season, Pinto has consistently delivered. He notched 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 41 games last season, demonstrating his offensive prowess. This season, Shane Pinto has maintained his steady production, recording 10 points, 53 shots on net, 30 hits, and 24 blocked shots in 30 appearances.

Notably, most of Pinto's offensive contributions have come since mid-December, highlighting his growing importance to the Senators. As the team seeks to clinch a playoff spot, Shane Pinto's form and performance will be crucial. With the Senators currently sitting 6th in the Atlantic Division (19-17-2) and struggling with four losses in their last five games, Pinto's contributions will be vital in keeping the team competitive.