Joe Thornton Kicks Off Hall of Fame Celebrations in Toronto

Joe Thornton celebrated the beginning of his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on March 9, 2024, receiving his Hall of Fame ring and blazer during a ceremony in Toronto. The event marked a significant milestone for Thornton, a legendary figure in ice hockey, who played 15 seasons with the San Jose Sharks from 2005 to 2020. He was elected to the Hall in the Player’s Category in June, making the cut in his first year of eligibility. Other notable inductees this year include Duncan Keith, Zdeno Chára, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill, and Brianna Decker. In the Builders’ Category, Jack Parker and Danièle Sauvageau were also honored.

During the ceremony, Thornton was introduced by Ron Francis, chair of the Hall of Fame selection committee, and presented with his ring and blazer by Hall of Fame chairman Mike Gartner. At 46, Thornton stands sixth on the NHL’s all-time list with 1,174 games played and is 14th with 1,539 career points. Renowned for his exceptional passing skills, he ranks seventh all-time with 1,109 assists. This induction places him alongside several of his childhood idols, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.

Reflecting on his career, Thornton expressed gratitude for having played against legends like Wayne Gretzky and Francis himself. “I played against Wayne, I played against Ron. These are guys I grew up watching, and it was just incredible,” he said. Thornton made his NHL debut in 1997, having been drafted first overall by the Boston Bruins.

His fondest memories include reaching the Stanley Cup Final with the Sharks in 2016 and securing a Gold Medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. “Playing so many games and meeting so many guys, that’s what was so special to me,” Thornton noted.

The emotional moment of receiving the call informing him of his Hall of Fame election was vividly recalled by Thornton. He was in the midst of airport security after visiting Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews in Arizona when the call came from Francis and Lanny McDonald. “Holy doodle, holy doodle, boys,” was his initial reaction, illustrating the surprise and joy of the moment.

Thornton returned to his hometown of St. Thomas, Ontario, on the evening of the ceremony, where he was honored by one of his youth hockey teams, the St. Thomas Stars, at the arena named after him. He and the other inductees are set to be recognized at the Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Arena on March 10, 2024. During this event, the inductees will deliver speeches and officially be inducted into the Hall.

Thornton’s induction is particularly notable as he becomes the ninth former Shark to enter the Hall of Fame, and the first to have spent the majority of his career with the team. Previous Sharks inductees include notable players such as goalies Ed Belfour and Mike Vernon, defensemen Rob Blake and Doug Wilson, and forwards Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov, Jeremy Roenick, and Teemu Selanne.

Additionally, Dan Rusanowsky, the Sharks’ longtime radio play-by-play voice, was awarded a plaque in the Hall of Fame, receiving the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2023. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the radio and television industry in hockey.

As Thornton embarks on this new chapter, he is also stepping into a role within the Sharks’ front office as a player development coach and hockey operations advisor, indicating that while his playing days may be behind him, his influence on the sport continues.