You could describe Joe Thornton many ways.
Listening to all the things former teammates had to say on Saturday left no
doubt that there are few people like him. The Sharks organization and the
community got a chance to celebrate the legend on Saturday afternoon, as
Thornton's #19 was raised to the SAP Center rafters in a ceremony that will be
remembered for a long time. In typical Thornton style, he made the day about
his family and teammates.
33 years after the franchise established
roots in the South Bay Area, the Sharks now recognize two team legends with the
ultimate honor that can be bestowed on a professional athlete by their team.
There is no formal criteria for a number retirement, but the Sharks have
limited the honor to the two players who have meant the most tor their success.
Some may argue that championships should be the most important
qualifier for a number retirement, but Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are
likely first ballot Hall of Famers. The mark that they had on San Jose and the
NHL can never be questioned.
What stands out about Thornton are not
his on-ice accomplishments, but the things you hear friends and former
teammates say about him.
Douglas Murray spoke about a story where
Thornton and wife Tabea asked him to help move some people into a new
apartment. Murray assumed it was a player traded to the Sharks but it turned
out to be a homeless woman and her two kids who needed a place to live. It was
Thornton who provided that home.
Thornton vowed Murray to secrecy over
the good deed, but Murray would break that trust during the ceremony, exposing
Thornton's charity. Murray had a difficult time holding back tears as he told
the story.
Longtime teammate and fellow number retiree Patrick Marleau
spoke about Thornton's skills on the ice, speaking about the playoff overtime
game winner that Thornton setup against the Detroit Red Wings.
"He
used me as a backboard for that goal," Marleau quipped
The fellow
former Sharks captain then focused on Thornton's evolution from hockey player
to family man and the enthusiasm that he brought to both endeavors.
When it was his time to speak, Thornton paced the stage like a caged animal.
The big stage has always been a place that Thornton has found comfort, and he
wouldn't disappoint when stepping up to the microphone to share his remarks.
There aren't many opportunities to land a player of Thornton's
caliber, but how does a guy like him describe a career that was filled with
countless accomplishments.
He opened with his immediate transition to
San Jose and how Jonathan Cheechoo finished his first year in San Jose with 5
hat tricks and 56 goals. He then pointed out the privilege of playing at the
NHL level with his cousin Scott Thornton.
New Sharks wunderkind Macklin Celebrini, who is
living with the Thornton's, received a shout out from Jumbo for helping with
son River's 6th grade math!
Thornton educated the crowd with some not
so well known nicknames of former teammates like "Mufafafa" (Thomas Greiss),
Filmky (Mike Greir), Big (John Scott), Sideshow (Brent Burns).
Everyone expected Thornton to be an emotional mess during the ceremony and
there was a healthy dose of tears, but the man of the hour did an admiral job
of keeping his composure. The spotlight has always been home for Thornton and
this was just different in that he made everyone smile with a microphone rather
than a hockey stick.
The ceremony culminated with Thornton, wife Tabea
and his children Alya and River all pressing the button that raised the #19
banner to the SAP Center rafters. It was much a recognition of Thornton's
accomplishments as a thank you from all those in attendance. This event was
standing room only for a reason.
It was a jumbo ceremony for a larger
than life personality. A great night for one of the guys who put San Jose on
the map.
