Enforcer Advent Calendar – December 19th – Shawn Thornton
It’s the half-way point! Not only are we are nearing the end of the ‘Enforcer Advent Calendar,’ but also this crazy year. Every fan has a different player who they hold near and dear to their heart, meaning that there are so many more warriors that could have made this list. That’s the beauty of sport, we all have a different favourite. Some think Gretzky, others – Mario Lemieux, the older generation may tell you Gordie Howe, while the younger generation argues for Sydney Crosby. Regardless of who your favourite is, we can agree that all these men deserve to be celebrated for their sacrifices. Frankly, enforcers deserve a little spotlight for their accomplishments too because they are far-too-often the unsung heroes. So, let’s celebrate some legends… ‘tis the season, after all.
Past Poster Boys –
December 1st – John “Fergy” Ferguson Sr. December 2nd – Tony “Twister” Twist
December 3rd- Dave “Cementhead” Semenko December 4th – Ryan “Muffin Man” Reaves
December 5th – Darren “Big Mac” McCarty December 6th – Colton “Bobby” Orr
December 7th – Stan “Bulldog” Jonathan December 8th – Lyle “Cornelius” Odelein
December 9th –Krzysztof “The Polish Hammer” Oliwa December 10th – Stu “The Grim Reaper” Grimson
December 11th – Basil “Baz” McRae December 12th – Jordan “Tootoo Train” Tootoo
December 13th – Dave “Browny” Brown December 14th –Darcy “Hordichuks” Hordichuk
December 15th – Eddie “The Entertainer” Shack December 16th – Georges “Big Georges” Laraque
December 17th – Joey “Bruise Brother” Kocur December 18th – Tim “Sharkey” Hunter
December 19th – Shawn Thornton
There is something special about Shawn Thornton. Most may think it’s his fearlessness but, in reality, it’s his selflessness. In a heartfelt letter penned to ‘The Players Tribune’ Thornton detailed his struggles with his grandmother’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and his efforts to remediate the impact. Simultaneously, he was inspired to help children battle the countless ailments they were forced to endure. At one point in the article he says, “I think in some selfish way it was helping me just as much as it was helping them.” This statement immediately struck a chord with me. Altruism was a topic during a university ethics course that I was fortunate enough to attend. The analogy the Professor gave was – “Does Mother Teresa perform her charitable acts out of unselfish motives and her altruistic desire to help others? Or does she perform them to remediate the guilt she would feel if she hadn’t?” While there is no perfect answer to this question, Thornton’s response mirrored his on-ice mentality: help others and consider the consequences later.
Shawn Thornton vs Rob DiMaio – September 18, 2001 – 3rd period – 3:27
The shit-eating-grin on Thornton’s face at the end of this bout was the catalyst to becoming a legend in the league. While poor Rob DiMaio acted like he wanted to battle the young rookie, we all know he didn’t want to…especially in a pre-season game. Thornton was coming off a season where he accumulated 320 penalty minutes for the AHL St. John’s Maple Leafs and was more than willing to add to that tally in a Hawks jersey. This fight was all Thornton when he landed a flurry of right hooks to the Stars winger. DiMaio tried to battle back, but he was only able to muster a handful of punches to the rookie’s chest. While Thornton only played 3 seasons in Chicago, Hawks fans still regret the day they let the Oshawa native leave town. In this bout, Thornton switched hands on DiMaio and clearly surprised the NHL winger. Thornton capitalized on this onslaught with three quick left hands that dropped the Stars winger to the ice. Thornton dominated this tilt, and fight fans knew that wasn’t going to be the last time.
Shawn Thornton vs Riley Cote – March 15, 2008 – 1st period – 3:02
Something about Shawn Thornton donning a Bruins jersey just feels right. Unfortunately for Riley Cote, the Bruins and Flyers were in the same division. Hockey fans knew a divisional rivalry meant Cote would be forced to meet the former Peterborough Pete several times a year. The animosity between the two clubs spilled over into the TD Garden and both were more than willing to stand-and-trade that Saturday night. In this bout, the two gladiators squared off at centre ice and had a conversation about giving the fans a show. Andy Brickley didn’t hide his admiration for Thornton in this battle and why should he? The majority of us would do the same. The division rivals exchanged two quick rights before they locked up for a half-second and then both absolutely unloaded. The two traded shots…Lefts from Cote! Rights from Thornton! But neither warrior flinched. It ended with Thornton giving a respectful tap to Cote’s head that completed the bout in a draw. Thanks to an OT winner by Aaron Ward, the Bruins got the win at home and told their divisional rivals to hit the road.
Shawn Thornton vs Adam McQuaid – March 07, 2016 – 2nd period – 1:20
Florida Man Fights Friend!’ Nowadays, there aren’t many Florida headlines that shock your average reader – and this definitely wasn’t one of them. After the hit McQuaid laid on Quinton Howde, Thornton had no other option but to challenge his former teammate. After Thornton charged McQuaid a dance party was inevitable. The two locked up at the end boards and, while McQuaid would have loved to have any other Panther, he performed admirably against the former Bruins enforcer. Thornton always had a coy little smile during his bouts and this one was no exception. The two exchanged a couple jabs before Thornton unloaded two big rights before the linesmen seized their opportunity to intervene. With his willingness to throw down with any opponent – even ex-teammates – the former AHL mainstay had established himself in the league. Although this bout may not have been the most thrilling affair, the fans in Florida got to enjoy a scrap and a thrilling 5-4 game. Further, while the Panthers may have been on the losing end on the scoresheet, they knew they had an enforcer in Thornton who – other than Mr. Squats Jaromir Jagr – was the fan-favourite in the Sunshine State.
They don’t make em’ like Shawn Thornton anymore. Whether it was the constant head-taps at the end of bloody battles, or his unpublicized charitable works, Thornton was always a class-act. After his confrontation with Brooks Orpik, Thornton knew he was in the wrong and reached out to the Penguins defenceman to apologize for his behaviour. The former enforcer hung up the skates in 2017 and seamlessly traded in his jersey for a suit. Thornton took a position with the Florida Panthers on the business side, not on the hockey-side. With this, the uncertainty of being an enforcer inspired Thornton to pursue a more stable course of action after his playing career. While he may be a part of the Panthers organization, he remains a legend to Massachusetts. During Thornton’s time in Boston he imprinted his impact on teammates, the fans and the community. The Ontario native’s charitable works will never receive the attention he deserves…and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Thornton knew the weekly hospital visits weren’t for the press, they were for the kids. It wasn’t about Instagram for this enforcer…the world could use a few more Shawn Thornton’s these days.
Twitter:@Jonesinthezone
