Ontario’s Ottawa (AP) – Shane Pinto believes the experience will benefit him in the future. That wasn’t how it felt at the time, though.

After being sidelined due to a contract dispute that caused him to miss the start of last season, Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto from Long Island, New York, was suspended for 41 games by the NHL in October for “activities related to sports wagering.” Despite the setback, Pinto accepted the punishment and bounced back with a strong performance in the second half of the season. However, watching his team struggle early on, which led to coach D.J. Smith’s dismissal in December, was difficult for him.

“I had to mature a lot,” Pinto told The Canadian Press. “In a way, it was a blessing in disguise. It reminded me how much I love and miss the game and how essential it is to my life.”

Pinto feels the suspension helped him grow as a person, teaching him to not take anything for granted. “It could be taken away quickly,” he said. “It was a hidden blessing, and it’s made my life better.”

The 23-year-old declined to discuss the specific details of his punishment but revealed on the “Empty Netters” podcast that his mistake involved having friends in the U.S. place online bets for him while he was in Canada. One of the league’s partners flagged his account, triggering an investigation. “That’s proxy betting, which is a big no-no,” he said on the podcast. “It was an illegal act, so it was a big deal. That’s why we didn’t contest the suspension and just accepted it.”

The NHL clarified that Pinto did not bet on NHL games, and he admitted to the Canadian Press that he didn’t realize he was doing anything wrong. “I just didn’t know better,” he said.

The Senators missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but Pinto will be back at training camp as the team looks to improve, with key players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Claude Giroux leading the way. Under new coach Travis Green and with the acquisition of goaltender Linus Ullmark, the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, the team hopes to turn things around.

“There have been a lot of distractions,” Pinto said. “Now we have stability and the right pieces in place. I think it’s going to be a good year, and hopefully, we take the next step.”

In July, Pinto signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension. Despite early injuries in his career, he managed to score 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games during the 2022-23 season. After returning from suspension in January, he recorded 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 41 games.

“There are no more excuses,” Pinto said. “The fans are tired of it, and so are we. It’s time for us to grow up this year and stop just talking about it.”