Long before Bowen Byram joined the Chicago Blackhawks this summer, his dad, Shawn, played just one game for them — but, oh, what a game it was.Shawn Byram, a forward, signed with the Blackhawks before the 1991-92 season and thought he’d likely get at least some NHL opportunities based on the guaranteed money in his deal. He was brought up from the Blackhawks’ IHL affiliate in Indianapolis to play in Chicago against the Minnesota North Stars on Nov. 3, 1991.Blackhawks-North Stars games rarely disappointed, and this one didn’t, either. Twenty-one seconds in, Mike Peluso and Basil McRae dropped their gloves and fought. The teams combined for 58 penalty minutes in total.“It usually ended up that way,” Shawn recalled of the physicality. “And it usually started that way.”The fighting and penalties were part of the rivalry, but there was still plenty of skill. Mike Modano scored twice for Minnesota in the game. Chris Chelios had two goals for Chicago. It was just the 16th game of the season, but Steve Larmer had already notched his 10th goal of the season that night. Jocelyn Lemieux put the Blackhawks ahead 4-3 in the second period, but Modano tied it up late in the third by beating goalie Jimmy Waite. It stayed that way through overtime, and both teams walked away with a point.Shawn centered the fourth line between wingers Stu Grimson and Lemieux. Byram played a limited role, but Blackhawks coach Mike Keenan called on him for a key faceoff.“I was supposed to be good at faceoffs, and he put me out there late in the game for a faceoff,” Shawn said. “So, I was pretty nervous I wasn’t going to do the job — tight game, big divisional game and everything, but got her done anyways. Mike did things like that. He would test you at different times to see what he thought you were made of, I guess.”Shawn had no idea at the time, but that would be his only game with the Blackhawks. He played solely in the IHL the rest of that season and for the next two seasons. Still, he enjoyed his time with the organization and will never forget that one game. He finished his career with five NHL games but played from 1988 to 2003 in North America and overseas.Now, 25 years after Shawn’s single-game Blackhawks career, his son, Bowen, will follow in his footsteps. One of the first things Bowen mentioned after being acquired by the Blackhawks from the Buffalo Sabres in late June was the longtime connection he felt with the team.“It was one of my favorite teams growing up,” Bowen said. “My dad played in the organization, and it’s always been — I felt like — the place I wanted to end up. Super excited to be part of the team. It’s an attractive place for me. I’ll get the opportunity to play and do what I can to help the team improve.”