Junior forward and assistant captain Nick Shore decided to forgo his final year at Denver to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL on Saturday.

Shore was selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft, 82nd overall.

With this decision, Shore becomes the Pioneers’ third early departure this season, following sophomore defenseman Scott Mayfield (New York Islanders) and sophomore goaltender Juho Olkinuora (Winnipeg Jets) since the close of the season and the release of head coach George Gwozdecky.

Shore is set to report immediately to the Kings, burning a year off his entry-level contract and making him eligible to move beyond the entry-level system one season sooner.

Shore leaves Denver with 34 goals and 93 points in 116 games over three season with the Pioneers. This season, he recorded a team-high 34 points off 14 goals and 20 assists.

He also follows in his older brother Drew’s footsteps, who left the Pioneers last year after his junior season to sign with the Florida Panthers. Drew has amassed 11 points in 35 games in his NHL rookie campaign this season.
Shore also leaves behind younger brother Quentin, a freshman forward on the Denver roster.

He is also the 20th underclassman to sign a professional contract over the last 19 seasons. Shore joins Mayfield, Olkinuora, Beau Bennett, Jason Zucker, Drew Shore (2012), Matt Donovan (2011), Marc Cheverie (2010), Joe Colborne (2010), Patrick Wiercioch (2010), Tyler Bozak (2009), Chris Butler (2008), Brock Trotter (2008), Geoff Paukovich (2007), Ryan Dingle (2007), Paul Stastny (2006), Matt Carle (2006), Brett Skinner (2005), Mark Rycroft (2000) and Matt Pettinger (1999) as Pioneers who left school early to turn pro since 1999.