Former Boston Bruin, San Jose Shark, Toronto Maple Leaf, and Florida Panther, Joe Thornton, will have his number #19 raised to the rafters by his former junior team in Sault Ste. Marie on the 4th of November of this year.
Thornton is a long-time NHL veteran who played 24 seasons, encompasses his first 8 seasons in Boston, the next 15 in San Jose, and then the short trips to Toronto and Florida to finish off his storied career. In total he played 1,714 games, scored 430 goals, added 1,109 assists, for a grand total of 1,539 points.
He won the Art Ross and the Hart Memorial in 2005-06 after scoring a 96-assist and 125-point campaign split between Boston and San Jose - that included 72 assists and 92 points in just 58 games for the Sharks. Unfortunately he was never able to get that elusive Stanley Cup despite his 19 playoff runs that included 125 points in 144 games.
As for his junior career, he played in 2 seasons with the Soo Greyhounds where he scored a combined 71 goals and 198 points in 125 games. In his draft season, he scored 41 goals and 122 points in 59 games before being selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997.
Thornton is one of 41 CHL players to be drafted 1st overall in the NHL and he will join fellow Greyhound alumni in Adam Foote (#5), Wayne Gretzky (#99), Ron Francis (#10), Craig Hartsburg (#4), and John Vanbiesbrouck (#1) in having his jersey retired and raised to the rafters.
