San Jose Sharks Fans Remember Jumbo Joe Era by Retiring Thornton’s Jersey – Hockey Writers – San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are expected to retire Joe Thornton’s #19 jersey at a ceremony on Saturday (Nov. 23), giving the franchise legend the only honor received by another Shark. The forward played 15 of his 25 seasons in San Jose, where he put up high numbers and led the Sharks to some of their greatest moments as a team. However, he deserves to be remembered more for his personality and passion for the game he played. The jersey retirement is a celebration of all of these aspects, cementing his legacy as a role model in the Bay Area and the world of hockey.

Thornton at the old shark center

Although the Sharks never got Thornton the Stanley Cup championship he deserved, he still ranks among the greatest games and plays in franchise history.

In the 2010 Western Conference playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings, he recorded eight points in five games and scored or assisted on three goals in the Sharks’ four-game winning streak, making his first Finals appearance in San Jose. The following season, he scored the series-winning goal in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, capping the record with a famous slide celebration. Even as he matured and became more of a veteran leader than a forward, he still made significant contributions on the ice. He had 21 points in the Sharks’ 2016 championship game that led to his only appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, and 10 points in the 2019 playoffs. He was 39 years old at the latest, but his importance to the team is still evident – among other notable events, he was heavily involved in the game that led to Barclay Goodrow’s series-winning goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.

When the Sharks traded for Thornton in 2005, they made a franchise-changing decision and sent a message that they were putting the future of the team largely in his hands. There were setbacks and disappointments along the way, but by the time Thornton finished his time in San Jose, he had led the Sharks to the highest level they had ever seen.

Thornton Was Unapologetically Himself

The Sharks brought Thornton to the Bay Area for his hockey skills, but he went from being a standout player to a beloved icon by being one of the NHL’s most colorful, lovable personalities. His willingness to express himself was evident in every way imaginable.

On the ice, look no further than his skating celebration, or his pure joy when he scored his 400th goal, or scoring a hat trick in 2019. He took that enthusiasm to the bench, like when he was messing with St. Louis Blues fans during a 2016 playoff game. He didn’t stop in the locker room, either, providing… shall we say, colorful defense of rookie goalie Tomas Hertl between the legs in 2013. Completely away from the ice, he remained faithful to himself, as in 2016, there. went shirtless in downtown Pittsburgh before a game against the Penguins. Even before the retirement ceremony the jersey has been a show of interest, fascination and humor.

Jonathan Becher says he urged Sharks players and fans to ask for one word to describe Joe Thornton.

“Funny” “Symbolic” “Beard” were a few of the answers.

Jumbo just came on stage and said he forgot “Sexy”

That’s your Joe Thornton day!

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 21, 2024

The full “Joe Thornton experience” requires fans to appreciate all aspects of who he is. From his honesty in interviews to his excitement after big games, the reason why San Jose loves him so much goes beyond what he can do with the stick and the puck.

Thornton Will Be Remembered For His Love Of Hockey

When you take Thornton’s ability as a player and combine it with his character, you get the quality for which he is best known: an unwavering, undying love of hockey. He lived and breathed the game, wanted nothing more than to play it, and was born to play it.

Related: Patrick Marleau’s top 5 moments as a San Jose Shark

That natural desire to be on the ice is what led to the many memories fans hold for him. That’s how he played through the playoff series with a torn ligament in his left knee. That’s why he announced, after winning the 2016 Western Conference Final before the rest of the series was decided, that he didn’t care who won the rest of the series and would be fine if they decided to dress 40 players. That’s what led him, one month before his 40th birthday, to say – just in a way – that he wanted to play 10 more seasons in the NHL.

Indirectly, that’s why he has a family. Unwilling to leave hockey during the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, he left to play for HC Davos in Switzerland, where he met his wife with whom he has two children. He never forgot the impact the team had on him, returning to them twice when the NHL seasons were delayed in 2012 and 2020 due to another lockout and the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.

Thornton played professional hockey for a quarter-century — more than half his life so far — and didn’t officially retire until he was 44. When he retired, he remained involved with the Sharks, until he came to coaching and teaching in 2024 first. -pick all Macklin Celebrini this season. He remains close to other icons of the franchise, including Patrick Marleau, with whom he played for more than a decade. Now, their jerseys will sit next to each other at the SAP Center.

Thornton’s jersey retirement is, at its core, a celebration of the player, but overall, it’s much more than that. He will be remembered as one, unique person who loved his job and showed that in almost everything he did in his life. It’s the perfect way to honor a man who embraced the team and saw the team grow again.