Shawn Thornton played a big role for the Boston Bruins during the past seven seasons he spent with the team, and in several years before that with a small handful of teams. Thornton was drafted 190th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997, though never played with the Leafs. He did play for the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks (he won the Stanley Cup with them in 2007), before landing in Boston and eventually winning the Cup with them in 2011.
Despite his success, Thornton was recently told by Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli that he would not be offered a new contract with the club. It was a hard decision for the GM and the club, with both acknowledging how Thornton has helped the team get to where they are.
Chiarelli said, “I told him that he was one of the most significant acquisitions we made … one, for the role that he played, two, for the person that he is. It was nice to rehash his time. It was sad to tell him he wasn’t coming back. I wished him well.“
Thornton is taking time to decide his future. A few years ago he said if he could not find a team to sign him long-term he was thinking of retiring. All the moving around from city to city for he and his wife was becoming too much. As much as his presence in the organization will be missed, the community might suffer also.
Having been in Boston for the past seven years, Thornton has made his presence felt within the city for some incredibly admirable causes such as the Shawn Thornton Foundation. This organization helps raise money for patients with Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Every year the organization holds a ‘head shave’ with the Bruins players. They have the choice to shave their head for cancer or pay $5000 in lieu of the head shave. This past season, Dougie Hamilton and Adam McQuaid were amongst those who shaved their head, while players like Tuukka Rask paid the money to get out of it.
Thornton started this foundation in memory of his grandmother who lost a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He founded the organization to support others going through the same. Along with certain events held by the foundation, Thornton also visits hospitals regularly, sits on the board for certain charity events, and is a spokesperson for Athletes for Heroes, a program that supports the children of fallen or severely injured soldiers.
I briefly met Thornton on May 7th at Complex Sportif Bell in Brossard, which is the practice facility of the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins held an optional practice that day as the Bell Centre was being used for a scheduled event. He practiced on the ice with a few of his teammates and after the practice was the only Bruins’ player to meet with the fans. Yes, there are a couple of Bruins fans in Montreal.
After he met the fans, I spoke with him for a few minutes before their bus left the rink back to the hotel. I asked him if he would like to stay with the Bruins in the upcoming season. His eyes showed he knew his time was coming but he said he loved the team and the city, and if he was given the offer, he would take it. Even if he will not play for the Bruins, he hinted that he would still potentially live in Boston. He made Boston his home and will return at any point he can (if he continues to play).
I also asked him about what it was like to be an enforcer. He said “the role is disappearing from the NHL.” Other enforcers are also being put onto the free agency market, in the hope that their other talent will allow them to land a job with another team.
It has been rumored many teams have shown interest in Shawn Thornton, including two Canadian teams. One is the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was originally drafted, but never played a game for them. The other is the Vancouver Canucks and new Canucks GM Jim Benning, who he knows from his time with the Bruins.
“I love Mr. Benning, him and his whole family,” Thornton told News1130 in Vancouver Tuesday. “If he gives me a shout, I will be more than happy to talk to him.”
Thornton said it is not all about the money, he just wants to play and help the team make it to the next level. He knows he is not a top goal scorer, but can chip in if needed, as well as bring energy and experience to the young players.
As a Montreal Canadiens fan, I can honestly say that Shawn Thornton is one of the classiest hockey players I have met to date. I thank him for his time and wish him well in the future.
You can check out his foundation at: ThorntonFoundation.org
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