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Brent Burns' beard to be immortalized with Chia head giveaway

Brent Burns is a fine hockey player, making two All-Star teams, being named most outstanding defenseman in the 2008 World Championships, and being considered by some as a Norris Trophy candidate.

But the thing that sets the San Jose defenseman apart from all others is his beard.

The 30-year-old's facial hair has taken on a life of its own, even drawing comparisons to Chewbacca (a comparison to which he obliged at the NHL Skills Competition in late January):

So kudos to the Sharks for coming with one of the more original promotional ideas we have seen in some time … in any sport: