By Shelden Rogers
The city of Belleville was buzzing on Thursday morning after hometown hero Andrew Shaw scored one of the biggest goals of his career.
Shaw scored the game-winning goal last night in triple overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 1-0 series lead against the Boston Bruins.
The city is watching as Belleville’s own Shaw and the Blackhawks are three wins away from NHL’s holy grail.
Shaw is in his second year of NHL action and at the age of 21, has the chance to bring the Stanley Cup to his hometown.
Andrew’s mother Darlene Shaw still can’t believe what her son has accomplished.
“It’s unbelievable. We understand that yes, it is his second year in the league and he is playing for the biggest cup there is in hockey. When you get in that Chicago arena, I think your body just tingles. You realize, wow, how did this all happen in two years,” said Darlene in an interview before leaving to Chicago on Tuesday.
Her son has not only become popular in the Chicago arena, but around the entire NHL as well. Darlene loves seeing fans at the arena with her family name written on the back of their jerseys.
“I remember one person a couple weeks ago, said to me thank God you had him. I said wow that is quite a statement. You just smile and say thank you, we believe the people when they talk about him,” she said.
Both Darlene and her husband Doug can’t even put into words what it would mean to them if their son won the Stanley Cup.
“I can’t even think about that right now. It’s just not quite real yet. For Doug and I we just think one game at a time,” said Darlene.
Growing up in Belleville, Shaw spent a lot of his minor hockey playing with the Quinte Red Devils.
His Red Devils coach Carl Mackenzie couldn’t be prouder of Andrew.
“I’m just so happy that he is doing so well. You look at all the highlights, they are showing Andrew all the time. He’s like the new hot player of the NHL. He’s just doing fantastic,” said Mackenzie.
When Mackenzie found out that Shaw scored the game winning goal in game one of the Stanley Cup final he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“I woke up at four o clock and I looked at my phone and I said to my wife he did it again,”
Mackenzie said Shaw wasn’t the best player he ever coached, but he had the most heart.
“Andrew wouldn’t stop. He just kept going. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. He would listen to everything you say. He was a dream to coach,” he said.
Mackenzie said Shaw was a role model for other players. He was respected on and off the ice.
“He was very well liked. He was raised right. He was a very polite young man, he had a great sense of humour,” he said.
Mackenzie watches Shaw’s games at his neighbours house and brags about the player he coached. He is cheering louder than ever, in hopes that Shaw will return home with a Stanley Cup.
“I am so happy for him. I hope he comes back with a Stanley Cup ring. That would just be amazing for him. He’s living the dream for sure,” he said.
Another person cheering more than ever is Shaw’s best friend Dustin Walsh.
Shaw and Walsh have been playing hockey together from the age of 13. Even with both of their busy schedules the two have remained close friends.
Walsh watches Shaw’s games as much as he can, including game one of the Stanley Cup final.
“It was pretty exciting. I was watching it with my brother, we both thought he was playing one of the best games that we have seen him play. He was doing so much that we were like it’s going to be his line that ends up putting it in,” said Walsh.
Even with all the fame, Walsh said Shaw doesn’t let it go to his head. He is still the same guy that he knew when he was 13.
“He’s a really down to earth guy, a lot of fun. You would never know hanging out with him that he played a season in the NHL. He’s the type of guy where it doesn’t go to his head or anything,” said Walsh.
Walsh and the city now wait for game two of the Stanley Cup final on Friday night in Chicago.