Both grew up in the same household outside of Denver. Both played for the Littleton Hawks and won Pee Wee National Championships. Both will now play in the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Nick Shore has always followed in his brother Drew’s footsteps. That’s what a younger brother does. But now, although they’ll be playing at different age levels (Drew is one year older), the siblings are reunited under the same national program. They’ve moved over 1,000 miles to play for the NTDP but according to them it’s worth it.
“Being able to put on a USA jersey and play for your country is an experience you can’t let pass,” said Nick, who has gotten quite the crash course on USA hockey from Drew. “I’m so excited to be joining the program.”

Drew has been out there for a year now, having played on the U-17 team (and ranked second on the team with 38 points) last season. He’s been staying with a bill family while the rest of his family stayed in Colorado. It’s a situation many of the guys on the team are used to and accept. But now a piece of home has made its way out there and Drew’s host family has decided to take in Nick as well.

“It’s going to be great,” said Drew, while the Shore family was vacationing in Canada prior to the boys leaving for Ann Harbor. “We’ll get to live with each other and work out together. I think we’re both really looking forward to it because we get along so well.”
Nick shared the same sentiments.
“He’s been away for four years (playing for Honeybaked AAA in Michigan as well) and we only get to hang out in the offseason, so it’ll be nice.”

The national teams have got to be excited as well. While family ties are nothing new to the NTDP, it is the first time that a sibling duo will play for the program at the same time. On top of that, they landed two very talented young men whose only goal is to grow.

Both brothers have hockey in their futures. Drew’s is a little more certain however. He’ll be coming home to Colorado to play George Gwozdecky and his two-time national champs, the Denver Pioneers. College hockey fans in the Centennial State are already buzzing about his arrival in the fall of 2009. So what exactly enticed him back?

“You know, I grew up there and played so close to Denver,” he said, “Having left and having been gone for so long makes you appreciate it and I realized that’s where I want to be. I love just about everything about Denver.”

So what about Nick? That future is a little more uncertain.

Part of the reason so many hockey fans got excited about Drew’s commitment was because they figured it would give DU a better chance to lock down Nick. And it might, but we’ll have to wait and see according to the brothers.

“I think he will (end up choosing Denver),” said Drew. He’s not sure but if I had to guess, he will.”

Nick kind of laughs when asked the inevitable question. He’s gotten that a lot since his brother committed.

“I’m really not sure,” he said with a laugh. “I really want to just develop under the NTDP and make that decision later.”

It’s an excellent thought having two stud players, let only siblings with a certain chemistry, on the same team. It’s never happened to the Shore brothers and many are curious how it would work out.

Both agree about their respective games. The consensus is that Drew is the playmaker and Nick is the goal scorer.

Hmmm…sounds like the perfect 1-2 punch. Each would certainly be able to complement the other’s game.

“I’d like to try it out,” said the goal scorer. “One day we might get the chance and see if it works.”

He laughs maybe thinking a bit about his goal tallies increasing.

Drew doesn’t beat around the bush one bit.

“I’d love to play with him.”

It’s a waiting game from here but if all goes according to how it has in the past, younger brother will follow older brother.
Because that’s what brothers do.

A Little More on the Shore Brothers:

Drew, the outgoing brother: Started with the Junior Pioneers then switched to play with Littleton. There he won Pee Wee National Championship under Kent Murphy, who he credits with a lot of his hockey growth.

“I had some really good coaches. We always had fun because they made it so I wanted to come to the rink every day.”

Nick, the laid back brother: Also won a Pee Wee Tier II National Championship and credits playing in the Quebec International as the highlight (so far) of his young hockey career.

His advice for young hockey players: “Never stop working. There’s always someone working twice as hard as you.”