WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tim Shoup

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 20, 2017 | 10:55 PM

The 2010-11 PIHL season was one for the record books for Upper St. Clair, as the Panthers won both the Penguins Cup and Pennsylvania Cup in dramatic fashion. That historic team was comprised of several future DI players, including sophomore blueliner Tim Shoup. Shoup, who is now one of the top defensemen at Dartmouth College, is under the microscope for this week’s edition of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.

During that campaign for the Panthers, Shoup contributed one goal and eight assists in the regular season. Upper St. Clair advanced to the Class AAA title game against Canon-McMillan, but the Panthers trailed late in the third period. The team got the equalizer, though, and then prevailed in overtime to claim the championship.

The Panthers showed their flare for the dramatic the following week, too, as they again had an overtime contest, this time against LaSalle College in the Pennsylvania Cup. The tilt went to overtime, and Shoup assisted on the game winner, one of his two postseason helpers.

That season marked the end of Shoup’s tenure in the PIHL, as he moved on to various club and junior teams, before ultimately matriculating to Dartmouth in 2014. Shoup played in 25 contests for the Big Green as a freshman, contributing five assists. Dartmouth finished 17-12-4, although Shoup missed the postseason action in the ECAC first round and quarterfinals because of injury.

As a sophomore, Shoup appeared in 34 of his squad’s 35 games, and he compiled two goals and seven helpers. Dartmouth was a perfect 8-0-0 in contests in which Shoup found the scoresheet. Overall, the Big Green achieved a mark of 18-16-1, which included a trip to the ECAC semifinal, a loss to No. 1 Quinnipiac.

This season, Shoup has been hampered by injuries, but has played in 18 games, picking up one assist. With two regular season tilts remaining, Dartmouth has struggled, as the Big Green are 10-14-3.

Tim took time away from the rink to answer questions about handling the physical rigors of hockey, the benefits he enjoyed from playing in the PIHL, and what rule change he would make to college hockey.

Q: How have you improved during our three years in college hockey?

A: I think I have improved in all areas of my game. Our defensive coach, John Rose, has really helped me a lot through my three years to make my game more complete and to be able to play in all situations.

Q: How would you describe your style as a defenseman?

A: I think my style is a two-way defenseman. I try to jump up in the play when I can and help the team produce offense.

Q: How do you handle the physical demands of playing a full season of NCAA hockey?

A: We have a wonderful trainer, Jeff Frechette, along with our new strength and conditioning coach, Nate Strah, who help us every day to recover and keep our bodies as close to 100 percent as we can. They helped me a lot this year, especially when I was sidelined for a little over two months with an ankle injury. They did everything they could to get me back on the ice as soon as possible, and I am grateful to have them here.

Q: Did you set any personal goals for 2016-17?

A: Yes. They were to make it back to Lake Placid and win it this year, and hopefully if we finish strong, we will be able to make a push and win the ECAC!

Q: Dartmouth has struggled a bit this season compared to the previous two years. What will be key over the final few games to finish strong?

A: I think that we just have to get back to playing simple hockey and playing the way we know we can. If we can do that, I have full confidence that all of our players will be able to get the job done.

Q: What was the most exciting or intense atmosphere you’ve played in thus far in your college career?

A: I have played in a few great atmospheres. Cornell and Quinnipiac are always great places to play, but I love when we play Princeton at home and all the fans throw tennis balls on the ice after the first goal.

Q: Why did you decide on Dartmouth?

A: It was an easy decision for me. I talked to Grant Lewis, who also is from Pittsburgh and attended Dartmouth, and he told me how much he loved it. Also. when I visited I loved it immediately, and with unbelievable academics and hockey, it’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up!

Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?

A: I am a government major, and my ideal future profession would be a pro hockey player. However, if that doesn’t work out, I would love to go into the business world.

Q: You won the Penguins Cup and Pennsylvania Cup championships at Upper St. Clair. What was that experience like?

A: It was an unbelievable experience that I got to have as a sophomore. This was the first real championships I won, so it was very special to me, and to share it with the great guys that I did made it even better.

Q: How did playing in the PIHL help your development?

A: I think it really helped my development, because as a sophomore, I was playing against guys 2-3 years older than me; it helped prepare and give me much needed experience, as well as playoff experience, which I would lean on when I won the Clark Cup with the Indiana Ice in the USHL in 2013.

Q: Do you still stay in touch with any of your high school teammates or coaches?

A: Yes, I like to try and see some of the guys whenever I go home for summer or Christmas break. Also, a few of the guys from that team play Division I, like Luke Stork at Ohio State and Justin Selep at Michigan State, and I’ve played against them in juniors.

Q: Who is your favorite pro athlete?

A: My favorite pro athlete would have to be Sidney Crosby, because of what he did for hockey in Pittsburgh and seeing him bring the cup to Pittsburgh twice is something that I’ll remember forever.

Q: What food could you eat every day for the rest of your life?

A: I think it would have to be cinnamon almonds.

Q: If you could make one rule change to hockey, what would it be?

A: My rule change would be the overtime rule in college hockey. I would change it to a five-minute 3 vs 3 overtime, instead of 5 vs 5, so there wouldn’t be as many ties.

Tags: Upper St. Clair