Pinho finished his NCAA career with 115 points (39g, 76a) in 156 games. In his junior season, the 6'1", 191-pound forward led Providence with 40 points (12g, 28a), and his 28 assists were the most by a Friar since the 2002-03 season. Pinho recorded 25 points (9g, 16a) in his sophomore season, recording six multi-point games. In his 2014-15 freshman season, Pinho led all Providence freshmen with 18 points (6g, 12a) and was named as the team's Most Outstanding Freshman. Pinho recorded two points (1g, 1a) in four NCAA Tournament games en route to a NCAA Championship, Providence's first-ever hockey championship.
Pinho played in 59 games for the Indiana Ice in the USHL in the 2013-14 season, tied for sixth in goals (28) and 15th in points (56) in the USHL. Pinho scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the USHL Clark Cup Final against the Waterloo Black Hawks, earning Indiana their second Clark Cup in franchise history. A product of St. John's Prep High School in Massachusetts, Pinho recorded 93 points (32g, 61a) in 45 games in two seasons from 2011 to 2013.
The Capitals selected Pinho in the sixth round, 174th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.