The Ottawa Senators have been known to let their prospects develop in the American Hockey League before making the transition to a full-time member of the team. Players such as Jason Spezza, Antoine Vermette, Brian Elliot, and more recently Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone were members of Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, before transitioning to the NHL. One player looking to follow in the path of his former teammates Hoffman and Stone is Shane Prince. 

“It’s a process; Ottawa is an organization that rewards players who develop in their system and work hard,” said Prince.  “With three years now under my belt, I’m definitely looking forward to making the jump with Ottawa at the NHL level.”

Prince has definitely earned a spot in the conversation about the Senators roster for the upcoming 2015-16 season.  In 72 games with Binghamton last season, he tallied 28 goals and 37 assists for a total of 65 points.  He led his team in points while finishing sixth in AHL scoring. 

“Our Coach Luke Richardson who played the game for years in the NHL helps.  He knows that I’m a scorer and we have been working on developing my all around game and getting more physical.  I think my whole game has improved thanks to the whole coaching staff.” 

The Binghamton Senators management have also done a great job according to Prince.  “Management has been great starting from day one.  They have made tons of improvements to the rink.  Personally, I think it’s one of the most fun rinks to play in with the fans right on top of you.  It’s not just an old rink.  The players appreciate the new dressing rooms, new seating, and scoreboard.”

Prince’s strong play with the Binghamton Senators earned him an appearance in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic where he notched a hat trick in front of a sold out crowd in Utica.  “It was a ton of fun and exceeded my expectations.  The city of Utica was phenomenal with the atmosphere that they created for the skills competition and game.  It’s something I’ll remember forever.”

Prince was drafted 61^st overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has spent 3 seasons with Binghamton, finishing his first season in 2012-13 with 35 points before going on to record 48 points the following year.  “Every level that you go up gets harder and the game changes.  You have to gain respect and earn your ice-time all over again.  I have been constantly improving and hope to make the jump to the next level this season.”

Getting drafted by Ottawa was a unique experience for Prince after spending two and a half years in junior with the Ottawa 67’s.  “I had a great two and a half years with the 67’s and to get drafted by an NHL team that’s in the same city as your junior team is pretty rare.  I’m really happy that it happened to me.” 

Prince started his junior career with the Syracuse Stars of the EJHL before making the jump to the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers.  “It was really cool to get drafted by Kitchener because they were known as a great organization, yet also fortunate to get an opportunity to play a bigger role in Ottawa.”  The 67’s featured players like Tyler Toffoli, Sean Monahan, Peter Mrazek, and current Ottawa Senator Cody Ceci.  “It’s funny because when I was in Kitchener, I told myself if I ever wanted to play somewhere else it would be for the 67’s.  I love Ottawa and it’s such a great city.”

Prince returned to Ottawa last season to make his NHL debut on February 16^th against the Carolina Hurricanes.  “The whole experience was awesome.  It’s a day that you wait for your whole life.  The first day, you want to get up as soon as you can.  It was rewarding getting on that ice after working so hard in Binghamton.  It got the weight off my shoulders and I was fortunate enough to play a good game and get my first NHL point in my first game.”  Although Prince only played in two NHL games last season, the experience serves as motivation heading into training camp.

Prince has been focusing on his on-ice performance, but the most inspiring story is his work off of the ice.  Prince started a hockey school called Prince Elite Hockey to give kids the opportunity to get on the ice with professional and college players.  “We wanted to provide great training and all the pros participate in the drills.  It’s a good feeling putting smiles on kids faces.”

Prince Elite Hockey now involves a charity component that features the Puck Cancer Beach Classic.  “It all started with a kid named Patrick Carr who came to our hockey school last summer and had battled cancer his entire life.  I told my Dad that we had to do something for Patrick and we came up with the Puck Cancer Beach Classic idea.  It was developed for over a year though unfortunately Patrick was on the decline with the cancer taking over.  He actually passed away the week before the event.  Instead of a celebration with Patrick, it turned into a party for Patrick.  It was unbelievable; we had 1,500 – 2000 people there and we had 30 teams participate.  It’s going to be an annual event and going forward we are trying to get a room at the Rochester’s Children’s Hospital.  The funds that we raise will go to that room for the kids to hang out.  We’ll throw some TV’s and Xbox’s in there along with games for the kids.  We named the trophy the Patrick Carr Sandley Cup, and the winning teams get their names engraved on the Cup.  In the winter, we want to have it showcased in the room at the hospital.” 

For more information on Prince Elite Hockey, follow them on Twitter @PrinceEliteHcky along with Shane Prince @ShanePrince18. 

“Social media is a good way to express yourself and share things with fans.  Obviously as a player, you need to do it the right way because social media can create problems.  It’s all about posting positive things.”

Growing up in Spencerport, New York, Prince was a fan of the Buffalo Sabres.  “I was a fan of the Sabres and their farm team (Rochester) was right in my hometown so I always went to Amerks games.  My favorite player growing up was Daniel Briere.  He was a great playmaker and scorer for the Sabres.”  Daniel Briere recently announced his retirement after a 17-year career that saw him play for the Phoenix Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche.

For Senators fans, Prince can be compared to a few players but Executive VP of Operations and Co-Owner of the Binghamton Senators, Tom Mitchell, recognizes similarities to another Ottawa Senator that spent time in Binghamton.  “I look at him like a (Jean-Gabriel) Pageau; he’s not big but his compete level is off the charts. Smaller guys have to compete like that to be successful.  He doesn’t take anything from anybody despite his size.  He’s got some great skills and has good potential. He’s close to the bubble going into training camp but if he has a good camp, he has a good shot at being a full-time player in the NHL.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau also spent 3 seasons in Binghamton.  Heading into training camp, Prince looks follow the trend and return to the city that he has come to love.