ORLANDO, FLA. – Everybody’s got a story. Orlando Solar Bears forward Brady Shaw’s story centers around the ice.
“I’ve been around it all of my life,” Shaw said after a midweek practice. “I grew up with it. It’s given me a lot.”
The son of a former NHL player, Brad Shaw, Brady is following his father’s footsteps. One of the ECHL’s top scorers, Shaw is on the right path.
“I think he can get to the NHL,” said Solar Bears Head Coach Drake Berehowsky. “He’s got the skill, he’s got the talent. He’s been successful because he does those things.”
His game is similar to his dad, which is one of two reasons the Shaw name resonated so well with Berehowsky. The second reason got coach even more excited.
“When I called him it took me a few minutes to put it together that it was “Brady Brady,” Berehowsky said. “It’s great because I’ve read all of those books to my kids.”
Shaw is the subject of Canada’s wildly popular book series “Brady Brady” written by Mary Shaw, Brady’s mother.
“I wasn’t a big reader growing up like most boys who love sports are,” Brady said. “She just wanted me to read more so she started writing them as a hobby.”
What began as a hobby to get her then 5-year old son to read quickly became a national phenomenon. The series focuses on young Brady and his obsession with hockey.
“My mom had to call me twice to get my attention,” Shaw said. “It could probably be titled Brady Brady Brady Brady. She stopped at two.”
“Obviously when you’re the center of a book like that and how popular it is. It’s pretty special.”
So special in fact, Shaw’s popularity has surged among his Canadian teammates.
“I was just talking with Colby McAuley and he wanted to be Brady Brady when he was little,” Shaw said.
“We played about two weeks together and after that two weeks I found out and I was kind of like what,” McAuley said? “Are you kidding me?”
Shaw’s story has now expanded in the U.S. Occasionally the forward reads his book series at local elementary schools.
“They’re probably thinking Brady Brady is some cute cartoon and they see me and they’re like ‘oh my god he’s old,’” Shaw said.
Brady Shaw’s story is still being written. Whether he follows in the footsteps of mom or dad is irrelevant to him. According to him, this story will be based on the character of Canada’s favorite hockey character.
“Hopefully people have a lot of good things to say about me. I’m a good hockey player but a better person,” Shaw said. “I’m enjoying my time here and I’m focused on playing hockey now and not try and think about what’s next."