Hockey: The Shaw thing - Brad carries his family's legacy

Brad Shaw thrilled fans with his shot in the Olympics qualifier. Photo / Kenny Rodger

For years, Brad Shaw lived in the shadow cast by older brother Hayden. Until he scored that goal.

In an instant, New Zealand hockey fans had a new hero. While all eyes were on drag-flick expert Hayden when the Black Sticks lined up for a penalty corner against Argentina in sudden-death extra time at the winner-take-all 2008 Olympic qualifier, it was Brad who buried his shot in the goal to break Argentine hearts and hand New Zealand their ticket to Beijing.

Tomorrow Brad Shaw - his brother since retired - will be back on that same North Harbour Hockey Stadium turf as part of the New Zealand Champions Trophy team who won hosting rights after the international body took the tournament, following internal wrangles, from India and handed it to Hockey NZ.

Shaw admits "he is not big" on such matters but does concede "it [that goal] was probably the most important thing I have done".

No one would disagree. Certainly not his teammates who have played alongside him in his 124 international appearances.

Ironically, Shaw debuted in the same tournament seven years ago in Pakistan and continues to treat every game as a challenge.

"There are no easy games at this level. Every game is massive and every game you get to play is a bonus," said Shaw, 28. "Whether next year's Olympics will be my last, I have no idea. That will be determined by a number of factors. There certainly won't be any big retirement announcement.

"I'm playing hockey because I love it."

From a long-standing hockey family and with a stick in his hand from an early age, Shaw could feel a little on the outside among his teammates.

He is now the only Canterbury player in the squad and is the only dad among the handful of marrieds.

"That does make it a bit harder. My son Jordae is now 2 and he is aware when I'm away but maybe when he is older, I can tell him where I was and why."

Shaw takes satisfaction in what the Black Sticks have achieved under coach Shane McLeod but, more importantly, knows it is time to step up.

"We want a medal. Are we capable? Definitely. On our day we have the opportunity to show how good we are but we are not disillusioned. We have a core group - even in our mid-range - of players who have around 100 caps. Put those alongside guys like Dean [Couzins], Ryan [Archibald], Phil [Burrows] and Blair [Hopping] who have over 200 and we can point to a very experienced group."

The win over Great Britain in a warm-up game this week was, Shaw concedes, another [small] step.

"It was better than losing 5-0," he said. "But there were still guys not happy with their game. That attitude is encouraging."

Part of the Selwyn team who won the Canterbury premier title for the first time in almost 30 years, Shaw intends to keep playing for as long as he can juggle his part-time school teaching commitments with his fatherly duties and supporting his wife Melissa's job as a policewoman.

"Without the help of both our parents I would not be even thinking about the Olympics."

And, to return to that magical moment nearly four years ago, Shaw explained that he was in his usual position expecting a drag flick from his brother. That didn't happen. "I didn't know whether, as a second shot, it had to be on to the backboard or could have gone higher into the goal."

It went along the ground, rattled the backboard. The rest is history. It was only the second goal Shaw had scored for the Black Sticks - the other a lucky effort in a penalty corner gone wrong - but it has remained a talking point since.

A third at this tournament would be a bonus.

BRAD SHAW

Born: February 13, 1983, Christchurch

International debut: Champions Trophy 2004

Caps: 124

International tournaments: Olympics: 2008

Champions Trophy: 2004

Commonwealth Games: 2006, 2010