Andrew Shaw’s Stanley Cup stiches net $6,500 for cancer

When the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 6 and won the Stanley Cup, no player’s face told the champions’ story better than Andrew Shaw’s. The grinder took a Shawn Thornton shot off the right side of his face early in that game, but returned to the ice shortly with two sets of stitches. By the time Shaw was hoisting the Cup, blood leaked from one of the wounds.

It was a fitting final image at the long end of the playoff road and once Shaw had the stitches removed, he decided to put them on Ebay and donate the proceeds to benefit the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Shaw’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Shaw opened the bidding at 65 cents and after 75 total bids, Harry Caray’s Tavern, a famous Chicago sports pub and restaurant, became the new owner of the stitches and an autographed photo for a sum of $6,500. Harry Caray’s is also home to the infamous Steve Bartman ball.

Shaw played a major role for the Blackhawks in his first full season with the team. During the regular season he scored nine times and added six assists while chipping in 38 penalty minutes. He was even better in the postseason with five goals, nine points and 35 penalty minutes in 26 games. Shaw scored in triple overtime to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the Bruins in the first game of the Cup final. The great thing about the 22-year-old is he knows his limits as a player and what he needs to do to be successful.

“I work hard, every time I was on the ice I played every shift like it was my last,” he told CSNChicago.com earlier this month. “I just competed and did the best to my abilities every chance I got and every time I touched the ice, I was always working on something.

“I’ve got a lot to work on still, I’m not the best hockey player, I just have to keep working hard and every time I touch that ice I have to push myself as best I can.”

After spending his day with the Stanley Cup at his parents’ cottage in Belleville, Ontario, the Blackhawks will be counting on an even bigger year from their grinder when they begin the season Oct. 1 at home to the Washington Capitals. Sports Interaction has the Blackhawks set at +500 to win the 2014 Stanley Cup, co-favorites with the Pittsburgh Penguins.