During the hot and dry summers in Phoenix, Arizona, beating the heat can be a challenge.
But for Trevor Shott, the club hockey team’s leading scorer, that challenge turned into an opportunity.
“In the summers there’s nowhere better to be than in a nice, cold ice rink,” Shott said.
Shott started skating at age three. Both his parents are Canadian, so naturally, he played hockey. He credits his dad as the one who got him into the sport.
Shott spent his earlier years in Arizona, but has also lived in Oregon and Colorado. No matter where he has lived, though, hockey has been his life. During his two years attending Fountain Valley, a prep school in Colorado known for it’s hockey program, he was named hockey player of the year twice.
Shott was never really interested in playing at an elite level. He wanted to continue playing post-high school, but didn’t want it to consume his life.
“I just like being on the ice and having fun,” Shott said. “Club hockey was what I decided was for me.”
Shott has been one of the best offensive players for the Ducks in his two years on the team. He scored a team-high 12 goals this past season and accumulated 21 points, second best on the team. His nine assists were second-most on the team.
Becoming a team captain has been a goal of his since he joined the team his sophomore year. With current captain Chris Campbell graduating this year, the door is wide open for Shott.
“I learned a lot from Patrick Sgarlata (the captain two years ago) and Campbell,” Shott said.  “I knew I’d have an opportunity to eventually become captain or assistant captain my senior year.”
The expectations for Shott were high going into tryouts his sophomore year. Junior Jesse Leonard had played with Shott when both had lived in Portland and had been talking him up to the other players.
Campbell said at first he wasn’t impressed, but it didn’t take Shott long to prove what kind of player he is.
“By the second tryout I was like, ‘Okay, for sure he’s on,’” Campbell said.
Since then, Shott has become one of Oregon’s go-to weapons offensively.
His skill and impact on the team have not gone unnoticed. Color commentator Collin Catman was impressed with what he saw from Shott this year.
“He just makes plays,” Catman said. “When he wants to score he can. But what makes him great is that he’s not one-dimensional. He does get others involved in his line as well.”
Campbell thinks Shott will be a great team captain if he’s elected this upcoming year.
“Trevor knows the game so well. When we’re in a huddle or between periods, Trevor knows what to say and he knows what needs to be done to win a game,” Campbell said. “He has always been a leader on the ice and this year will be huge for him off ice.”
Shott is ready for the opportunity. League champion Utah is moving to a higher division, leaving the Pac-8 open for anybody. Shott hopes that, under his leadership, the team can bring home its first league title since 2009.
“I’ve been a captain for every organization I’ve played for,” Shott said. “So it’d be great to end my hockey career leading these guys and hopefully getting a Pac-8 Championship.”
Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGusMorris