Guide Note

National Hockey League All-Star forward Joe Thornton currently plays for the San Jose Sharks.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Joseph Eric Thornton
2. Born: July 2, 1979
3. Birthplace: London, Ontario, Canada
4. Position: Center
5. Shoots: Left
6. Six time NHL All-Star
7. Boston Bruins Captain 2002-2005
8. 2006 Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner
9. 2006 Olympic Gold Medal winner

Prior to his NHL career, Thornton played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League starting in 1995. Following his first season, he was named the OHL Rookie of the Year. During the 1996-97 OHL season, Thornton helped the team finish first in their division and finished second in the league for total points.

Thornton was drafted first overall in the NHL Draft on June 21, 1997 by the Boston Bruins. Thornton joined the Bruins for 55 games his NHL rookie season, scoring three goals and four assists. He earned a full roster spot starting in the 1998-99 season, playing 81 out of 82 regular season games that year.

Thornton continued with the Bruins over the following several seasons and was selected for his first of six NHL All-Star Game appearances in 2002. He was named Captain of the Bruins for the 2002-03 season. Thornton played with the National League A in Switzerland during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, heaping the team win the Spengler Cup and the Swiss ice hockey championship. Following the lockout he returned to the Bruins.

On November 30, 2005 the Bruins traded Thornton to the San Jose Sharks. He also joined Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics, helping the team win a Gold Medal. His play continued to improve during the 2006 season, earning him the Art Ross Trophy for the most points scored in the regular season and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league Most Valuable Player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Thornton battled a toe injury for the beginning of the 2006-07 regular season, limiting his play. He still however finished second in total points during the regular season, behind young star Sidney Crosby.