LIGHTS, CAMERA, SHAWZY

Sep 13, 2021

Of all the players to come through the Iowa Wild ranks over the past eight seasons, there is perhaps no player who is more at home in Iowa than forward Mason Shaw.

 

“I’m not a fan of big cities,” Shaw said. “Des Moines feels like a smaller city, it’s very clean and it’s a place I’ve really come to love the last few years. The people are great and very welcoming, just like in Alberta.”

 

Shaw was born and raised on his family’s farm in Wainwright, Alb., where, to this day, he returns every summer to help his father with the cattle on the farm. In Des Moines, he has felt right at home with the community’s affinity for farming.

 

“They have farm shows over at Memorial [Auditorium] downtown,” Shaw said. “I’ve definitely spent time walking through a few of those and enjoy checking them out.”

 

The former Medicine Hat Tiger of the Western Hockey League was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft by Minnesota. Since then, he has put together a high American Hockey League profile, despite battling through multiple devastating knee injuries. With all Mason has accomplished so far, at just 22-years-old, he prefers to keep things simple… in more ways than one.

 

“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” Shaw said. “My dreams were always to live on the farm and play hockey. 10-year-old Mason would say you’re right on track, now it’s time to move up one more league in hockey, hopefully.”

 

If that’s not a recipe for a simple and happy life, wait until you read about his guilty pleasure food.

 

“You can’t beat the $1.88 ice cream cones from McDonalds,” said Shaw with a huge smile. “I may or may not have picked one up on the way out to the farm today. I rip through the drive-thru pretty quick to make sure I don’t get spotted there too often.”

 

Considering the grueling schedule Mason is on at the farm, coupled with a daily pro hockey off-season regiment, he’s earned an ice cream cone or two.

 

“When I’m home for the summer, putting up and taking down crops and cutting hay is something I really enjoy doing,” Shaw said. “Last night I didn’t get home until 3:30 a.m. and then we had skate at 9 a.m. the same morning…It’s something I love, and it’s translated to my hockey life as well.”

 

You won’t have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to check out our Facebook Live show with Mason coming up on Sep. 15. Shaw will be joined by Voice of the Wild, Ben Gislason, and fans are encouraged to join the program and conversation.

 

Iowa Wild hockey is presented by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.iowawild.com.

 

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