CONNOR SHAW, Transcona Railer Express
MANITOBA MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
want to make proud and even though I don’ t have my mom around anymore and I can’ t show her what I’ ve done, it doesn’ t change the fact that everything I do, I do for her. Even though she’ s gone, I’ m still living my life and everything I accomplish, I accomplish for her.” In the meantime, Shaw will admit that hockey has played a major role in his emotional recovery.“ Most of my friends play hockey and at my mom’ s funeral, my entire hockey team came,” he said.“ Not one guy was missing. Every guy on my team was there for me. On a hockey team, even if there are some guys who don’ t get along, they get along when they’ re together as teammates. Hockey brings guys together from 20 different families and when it comes to hockey, we all come together to make one family. My teammates were always there for me and that was important.” One person who was a big part of his emotional recovery in Dauphin was his high school coach, Bruce Helgeson.“ Coach Helgeson was my coach when I played high-school hockey
for the Dauphin Clippers,” he said.“ He coached in the past with Barry Trotz and knows a lot about hockey and motivating players. He taught me business in high school, but above all he taught me about hard work and respect. He’ d ask us to give him an hour on the ice at practice and he always gave it back. We lost the high school championship by one goal. It was tough year, but it was a very rewarding year.” This year, the Railer Express is not one of the dominant teams in the MMJHL, but it should be a playoff team and that means there is always a chance. Shaw believes the Railer Express is a lot like last year’ s MMJHL champion Stonewall Jets in terms of their grit and toughness.“ The way Stonewall won the championship last year, I think we can do the same,” he said.“ We just have to stick to our game plan and play it a game at a time. Once we get into the playoffs anything can happen. It’ s not how we start, it’ s how we finish this thing.” Conner Shaw is in the midst of proving that that’ s exactly how he’ s living his life. n
CONNOR SHAW, Transcona Railer Express
The goaltender for the MMJHL’ s T ranscona Railer Express is University of Manitoba student Conner Shaw, a former member of the MJHL’ s Dauphin Kings. We asked Conner, 20, about his life away from hockey and found out what drives him to be the teammate that he is today.
What’ s your favourite NHL team?
“ I’ m a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan and I have an ally on the Railer Express in head coach Bruce Schmidt. Any game the Leafs win the guys hear about it big time.”
Who’ s your favourite goaltender?“ I think the Leafs finally have a goalie in Frederick Anderson, but I’ ve always liked Roberto Luongo as well.”
What are your strengths as a goalkeeper?“ I would say my work ethic and his hand-eye coordination. I didn’ t even start working on net movement until I got to the MJHL.”
Do you play other sports?
“ Golf. My short game is his strength. I would say Pine Ridge is the finest in golf course in Manitoba, but while the ninth hole at the Ridge is indeed a tough, I think the 420-yard, Par 4, 11th hole at Gilbert Plains is among the toughest Par Fours anywhere. At Men’ s night, any team that birdies the hole gets a free round of drinks at the club house.”( Note: Shaw is a one handicapper who shot 80, 76, 75, 71, in the Manitoba Amateur this past year).
Read any good books lately?
“ I enjoyed Jordin Tootoo’ s book and I’ m just finishing Bob McKenzie’ s. I found the part on John Tavares to be the most interesting.”
What are your favourite games, movies and music?
“ I play a lot of NHL video games and was introduced to Sky Room recently and I really like it. My favourite music is country and I really like Dallas Smith. My favourite movie is Shawshank Redemption.”
Who are the best players you face in the MMJHL?
“ Chase Falconer of Stonewall is right at the top of the list. He combines strength and skill. And Mike Lorange, Charleswood’ s captain. He has the best shot in the league.”