He plays the game one way: all-out, every shift, no compromise. But
Shawn Thornton, one of hockey’s most respected enforcers, is much more
than a physical presence. In fact, when he signed a two-year extension
with the Boston Bruins in March, his head coach was quick to note, “The
one thing I like about guys that do that job is that they can also
play." On the night of Tuesday, January 10, 2012, No. 22 proved it.
The native of Oshawa, Ontario, who has appeared in 450 NHL games, stands 6’2”, 217 pounds.
Here are 5 things you need to know about the 35-year-old winger:
TRUE TO HIS WORD:
“When I hear things like “they can also play” it tells me that 16 years
of hard work have paid off. I didn’t always play a lot. I was known
as…I guess you could use the term, ‘tough guy.’ But when I was in the
minors, there was a year where the coaching staff worked hard with me to
make me a better player. We all put in a lot of hours. I’m happy to be
seen in that light.”
HIS WAYNE GRETZKY MOMENT:
“I think people would associate my prettiest goal with that penalty
shot from this January (a brilliant, highlight-reel leg dangle and toe
drag tally against Winnipeg). To pull off a move I had never tried and
it worked out, it was a great. Any player wants to contribute on
different levels. That’s what I’ve always tried to do. It was certainly a
nice moment, something I won’t forget.”
IN A GOOD PLACE:
“I’ve had the opportunity to play in a lot of really great hockey
cities. That’s not lost on me. When I was with St. John’s (Toronto’s
American Hockey League affiliate in Newfoundland), I ended up meeting a
couple of guys who ended up being my best friends. So many great
people, we were treated first-class…I can’t say enough about those
times. In Anaheim, even though it might not have the same atmosphere as
other hockey cities, was also great. And to be in Boston, where people
really embrace sports, it’s nice to have that connection to the fans.”
EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE:
“Reflecting on my career and all the work it takes to be on a team that
wins the Cup, it comes after the parade. Those ‘Remember when…’
moments. When the parade was going on in Boston, the one thing I was
thinking was, ‘Holy crap! There are a lot of people here.”
A MAN OF THE PEOPLE:
“You definitely can’t hide in Boston. I was at a boxing match for a
local guy who had a bout and I was walking him up to the ring. I got
stopped a lot, everywhere I went. That’s the passion the fans have for
the game. The majority of the people you meet appreciate what you do. ”
He’s worked hard every step of his career, one that saw him drafted 190th
overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1997 Entry Draft, play
several campaigns in the minors and then finally get his big break with
Boston.
Respected for his tenacity and tireless work
ethic, Thornton, who won his first Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, is
hoping to reach a personal goal he’s set out to achieve.
“As
time has gone on in my career, I thought I would be privileged to play
in 600 games in the minors, which I have, and 600 games in the NHL. I’ll
tell you that if that happened, I’d be a pretty happy man.”