Joe Thornton

Biography

Joe Thornton represented Canada at Vancouver 2010 and helped the team win the gold medal on home ice, registering a goal and an assist in the tournament. Thornton had made his Olympic debut at Turin 2006 where he contributed three points in six games.

Thornton’s first time wearing the maple leaf was in 1996 at the IIHF World U-18 Championship. A year later, he recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games en route to a gold medal at the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship. Thornton would go on to appear in two IIHF World Championships (2001, 2005), winning silver his second time at the tournament. Thornton also made two World Cup of Hockey appearances in 2004 and 2016, winning gold both times.

Thornton’s NHL career began with him being drafted first overall in 1997 by the Boston Bruins, where he would play for eight seasons before joining the  San Jose Sharks, where he has played through the 2018-19 season. Thornton’s individual accolades include one Art Ross Trophy (2005) and one Hart Memorial Trophy (2005).

Thornton was inducted to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2012 with his teammates from the 2010 Olympic hockey team.

Getting to know…

Started skating at age four, hockey at six … Hockey idol is Pat Lafontaine … If not a hockey player, would be a pilot … Is affiliated with Right To Play … At just 17, he scored 122 points in the OHL in 59 games.