Shawn Thornton

Last updated
Shawn Thornton
ShawnThornton-Photo by China Wong AHL (33221331058).jpg
Thornton in January 2019
Born (1977-07-23) July 23, 1977 (age 47)
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position Winger
Shot Right
Played for Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks
Boston Bruins
Florida Panthers
NHL draft 190th overall, 1997
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19972017

Shawn Thornton (born July 23, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player of the National Hockey League (NHL). An enforcer throughout his career, he won two Stanley Cups with the Anaheim Ducks (2007) and the Boston Bruins (2011). After retiring, he won 2 more Stanley Cups as an executive with the Florida Panthers (2024 & 2025).

Contents

Playing career

Thornton in a fight with Wade Brookbank in January 2008 ThorntonfightingBrookbank.jpg
Thornton in a fight with Wade Brookbank in January 2008

Amateur

Thornton played minor hockey for his hometown Oshawa Minor Generals of the OMHA's Eastern AAA League. He was drafted in the 9th round (145th overall) by the Peterborough Petes in the 1995 OHL Priority Selection.

Professional

Chicago Blackhawks/Anaheim Ducks

Thornton in February 2015 with the Florida Panthers Shawn Thornton - Florida Panthers.png
Thornton in February 2015 with the Florida Panthers

Thornton attempted to be drafted in the 1996 NHL draft but was not selected by any team. He was then drafted into the NHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997, 190th overall, Thornton never played for Toronto and was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2001–02 season. After six seasons back and forth between the NHL and AHL between the Chicago and Anaheim Ducks franchises, Thornton won his first career Stanley Cup in his final season with the Ducks in 2006–07.

Boston Bruins

On July 1, 2007, Thornton signed a three-year, 1.5 million dollar, deal with the Boston Bruins. [1] During a seven-year tenure in Boston, Thornton won his second career Stanley Cup during the 2010–11 season in which he also tallied career high numbers in goals (10), assists (10), points (20) and +/– (8).

Florida Panthers

At the end of the 2013–14 season, the Bruins organization informed Thornton that they would not be re-signing him, ending his career in Boston. [2] That summer, he signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers. [3] At the end of his contract, he re-signed with Florida for one year.

On April 6, 2017, Thornton announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season and played his final game on April 8. During the announcement of his retirement, he revealed that he would be joining the Panthers' front office in a business related position after the conclusion of his playing career. [4]

Brooks Orpik incident

On December 7, 2013, Thornton tried to goad Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik into fighting after Orpik delivered a borderline hit on Boston’s Loui Eriksson early in the first period. Orpik rebuffed Thornton’s invitation and at 11:06 of the first period, after a whistle due to Penguins winger James Neal kneeing Bruins winger Brad Marchand in the head, Thornton approached a thicket of players from both teams, slew-footed Orpik from behind and, while Orpik was on the ice, punched him at least twice. Six days later, he received his suspension after an in-person hearing with the league’s department of player safety. He appealed the suspension and had a hearing that Friday with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who did not immediately announce a decision. On December 14, 2013, Thornton was suspended for fifteen games. [5] Thornton, who was emotional after the game, contacted Orpik directly to apologize. Orpik conveyed forgiveness and understanding. Thornton and Orpik, who are friends, were part of a group of players who had worked out together in the offseason and during the NHL lockout. [6]

Personal life

Thornton founded the Thornton Foundation in 2013, which among other things, funds research into finding cures for Parkinson's disease and cancer. [7]

Thornton is a cousin of professional lacrosse players Zack and Bill Greer. Zack plays for the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), while Bill has retired and works for the Seals as an assistant coach. [8] Thornton is also the cousin of footballer Chris Brunt, who represented the Northern Ireland national team [9] and most recently played for Bristol City F.C. of the EFL Championship. [10]

Thornton was a part-owner of a restaurant in Pembroke, Massachusetts named Turner's Yard, which closed in 2014. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield was also a member of the owner's group.

Thornton made a cameo in the 2012 film Ted as an audience member at a Norah Jones concert. [11] [12] Thornton also featured on season 3 of Kitchen Nightmares in 2011.

Thornton's autobiography Shawn Thornton: Fighting My Way to the Top was released in November 2021.

Career statistics

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1994–95Oshawa Kiwanis AAA OMHA 4381928113
1995–96 Peterborough Petes OHL 63410141922430325
1996–97 Peterborough PetesOHL611910292041124620
1997–98 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 59033225
1998–99 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL788111935450009
1999–00 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL6041216316
2000–01 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL795121732031232
2001–02 Norfolk Admirals AHL708142228140004
2002–03 Norfolk AdmiralsAHL5011213213902228
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1311231
2003–04 Norfolk AdmiralsAHL646111725981126
2003–04 Chicago BlackhawksNHL810123
2004–05 Norfolk AdmiralsAHL71591426360008
2005–06 Norfolk AdmiralsAHL59102232192400035
2005–06 Chicago BlackhawksNHL1000016
2006–07 Portland Pirates AHL1544855
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks NHL48279881500019
2007–08 Boston Bruins NHL584377470006
2008–09 Boston BruinsNHL796511123101016
2009–10 Boston BruinsNHL741910141120004
2010–11 Boston BruinsNHL791010201221801124
2011–12 Boston BruinsNHL81581315450000
2012–13 Boston BruinsNHL45347602204418
2013–14 Boston BruinsNHL6453874120114
2014–15 Florida Panthers NHL4614550
2015–16 Florida PanthersNHL501458040002
2016–17 Florida PanthersNHL5022467
NHL totals7054260102110310516783
AHL totals6056110016124783926892

Awards and honours

AwardYear
NHL
Stanley Cup (Anaheim Ducks) 2007
Stanley Cup (Boston Bruins) 2011
Stanley Cup (Florida Panthers, as executive) 2024
Stanley Cup (Florida Panthers, as executive) 2025
Boston Bruins
Eddie Shore Award 2011

In 2023 he would be named one of the top 100 Bruins players of all time. [13]

References

  1. "Bruins sign Shawn Thornton". Boston Bruins. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  2. "Bruins announce Thornton not returning". National Hockey League. 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  3. "Florida Panthers active on day one of free agency". Florida Panthers. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  4. Richards, George (April 6, 2017). "It's last call for Shawn Thornton as final NHL games beckon". Miami Herald. Miami Herald . Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. "Penguins' Orpik shows forgiveness to Thornton".
  6. "Brooks Orpik: Apologetic Shawn Thornton 'A Pretty Good Friend'". 2013-12-20.
  7. "Shawn Thornton Foundation". The Shawn Thornton Foundation. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. "San Diego Seals Name Josh Sanderson and Bill Greer Assistant Coaches". Inside Lacrosse. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  9. "Brunt retires from Northern Ireland duty". BBC Sport.
  10. Hanna, Gareth. "Chris Brunt released by Bristol City as injury woe threatens to end ex-Northern Ireland star's career". Belfast Telegraph . Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  11. Bruno, Amanda (3 July 2012). "Boston Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton makes cameo appearance in movie 'Ted'". MassLive Media. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  12. "Shawn Thornton". IMDb .
  13. Bruins Announce “Historic 100” Ahead of All-Centennial Team Reveal https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-announce-historic-100-ahead-of-all-centennial-team-reveal