Shaw is one of 40 players who'll be playing on an outdoor rink in Sherwood Park starting today with the goal of raising $1 million for a new Linear Accelerator used in radiation treatment.
The teams are also trying to break the Guiness Book of Records for the world's longest hockey game.
"I'm nervous and excited about it at the same time," said Shaw. "This is the fourth time we've done this, so I sort of know what I'm getting into - the main thing is to take care of your feet."
The 37-year-old was part of the last marathon hockey game in 2008, when the group raised almost $560,000 to help the Alberta Cancer Foundation purchase a confocal microscope for the Cross Cancer Institute.
Shaw lost his father to cancer in 1991 as well as an uncle and friend, and knows the impact the disease makes on families.
"I've been directly affected like everyone has," added Shaw. "Now I have a newborn in the family and would like to help find a cure."
Brent Saik is the captain of the idea, with the first face-off in 2003. Saik organized the games after his father and wife died from cancer.
"Everybody playing or helping out have all unfortunately been touched by cancer," noted Saik. "The biggest accomplishment of this game is to help get the Linear Accelerator."
Saik said the Linear Accelerator is the latest in radiation therapy treatment. He said other treatments kill healthy cells, but the Linear Accelerator only kills cancer cells.
According to Christy Soholt, Alberta Cancer Foundation communications and marketing associate, the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton will eventually have two of these units, and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary will have one.
"This is a fabulous opportunity for us just to have someone so interested in raising money for the Alberta Cancer Foundation," said Soholt. "The awareness for us and the dollars for us is great."
The pucks drops for 39 men and one woman today and they'll play over 240 hours of non-stop hockey, until Feb. 21. The record they have to beat is their own, set in 2008.
Shaw is the lone Calgarian on the team and said the hockey is pretty good, even if it slows down in the wee hours of the morning.
