advertisement

#ShawFact: Rookie’s fans crank up Twitter

Fact: Andrew Shaw has burst onto the hockey scene in Chicago like few Blackhawks rookies before him.

In 24 years covering the Hawks, I’ve never seen a player called up from the minors become such a big hit with the fans.

There have been others who have had instant connections with the fans. Jeremy Roenick, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, to name three, but they were No. 1 draft picks who came with reputations and flashed their star potential immediately.

Shaw is about as far as you can get from a No. 1 pick. He wasn’t drafted his first two years eligible, finally getting tabbed by the Hawks in the fifth round last June when he was 20.

He is the kind of hard-working lunch pail guy Hawks fans love. He has scored 5 goals in his first eight games. He bangs. He fights. He gets his nose dirty in front of the net. All at a listed 5-feet-10 and 180 pounds.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Marian Hossa said Thursday. “He doesn’t have the biggest size, but you notice him every shift.”

On top of everything he has done, Shaw is now a social media phenomenon as well. That happened on Wednesday night after getting a goal and assist in the Hawks’ 6-2 win over Buffalo. Twitter blew up with #ShawFacts, with creative Hawks fans borrowing from “The Most Interesting Man in the World” beer ads.

Here are some of the best of Wednesday’s #ShawFacts, many courtesy of the Hawks’ Web site.

@hawknut: Sharks have “Shaw Week.” #ShawFacts.@hockeenight: Andrew Shaw puts Peggy on hold. #ShawFacts.@chiguy8307: The Egg McMuffin is the Andrew Shaw of breakfast sandwiches. #ShawFacts.@mokulling: Siri asks him for directions. #ShawFacts.@ekmcc24: The cowbell wants more Andrew Shaw. #ShawFacts.@RunsWithHawks: Patrick Sharp thinks Andrew Shaw is handsome. #ShawFacts.@jamiebreeze: Andrew Shaw knows where the Patrick Kane puck from the Stanley Cup Finals is. #ShawFacts.@Jakrip: If Andrew Shaw blocks you on Twitter you disappear. #ShawFacts.Shaw got into the act as well, tweeting from his personal account: @shawz15er: Andrew Shaw loves Chicago and doesn#146;t want to leave. #ShawFacts.The modest Shaw thought #ShawFacts was great fun, telling reporters on Thursday his favorite was: #147;Chuck Norris wears Andrew Shaw pajamas to bed.#148;

Crazy stuff.

#147;It#146;s pretty funny,#148; Shaw said. #147;It just shows hard work pays off. The fans recognize it and the organization recognizes it.#148;

Shaw said he heard from a few of his buddies through #ShawFacts after Wednesday#146;s game.

#147;A few buddies were texting about cottage life, saying I#146;m bad at tubing and fishing. That#146;s just not true,#148; Shaw joked.

When Shaw was recalled from Rockford on Jan. 4, I heard from a number of fans of the IceHogs who predicted Hawks fans were going to love this kid.

So far there hasn#146;t been anything not to like.

#147;He#146;s relentless,#148; Patrick Kane said. #147;He just keeps on working.#148;

Despite all the attention and success, Shaw is not letting it go to his head. He knows he must keep producing and improving to stick around.

#147;Scoring has been a bonus,#148; Shaw said. #147;They want me to play simple, play hard, be consistent. I#146;ve got to keep the work ethic going and bring energy every shift.#148;

File this away:According to TSN Canada, Hawks assistant general manager Marc Bergevin would be on the short list of candidates to replace Pierre Gauthier as GM in Montreal should the Canadiens decide to make a change.Bergevin is in his first season assistant GM with the Hawks after replacing Kevin Cheveldayoff, now GM in Winnipeg. Ÿ Follow Tim#146;s Hawks reports via Twitter @TimSassone.